Global restructuring outlook: Restructuring reinvented in UAE

In this episode of Global Restructuring Outlook 2025, we turn our focus to the United Arab Emirates, where the restructuring landscape has undergone a seismic shift. 

Following the implementation of a new bankruptcy code and three landmark restructurings in 2024, the UAE is now emerging as a sophisticated and globally aligned restructuring jurisdiction. But what does this transformation mean for businesses, creditors, and investors navigating financial distress in the region? 

Join Adam Banks, Partner at A&O Shearman and co-head of the firm’s restructuring practice in the Middle East, and Adam Fadian, Partner at A&O Shearman and lead advisor on the Drake & Scull restructuring, as they unpack the implications of these groundbreaking developments.  

Drawing on their direct involvement in the restructurings of Drake & Scull, JBF RAK, and Emirates Hospitals Group, they offer insider perspectives on how the UAE courts have embraced international best practices, including features inspired by the U.S. Chapter 11 process. 

What lessons can be learned from the UAE’s adoption of priority financing and creditor cram-down mechanisms? How did the courts navigate previously untested legal frameworks to deliver outcomes that rival global standards? And what does the future hold for distressed companies operating in the Gulf region? 

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the evolution of restructuring law in emerging markets, the role of legal innovation in economic resilience, and the growing influence of international legal harmonization. 

Global Restructuring Outlook 2025 explores the key legal, financial, and geopolitical developments shaping the restructuring landscape worldwide. Featuring expert insights from across jurisdictions—including the U.S., UK, EU, China, and the UAE—the series examines landmark rulings, evolving insolvency regimes, and the growing influence of private credit. Designed for business leaders and restructuring professionals, each episode offers strategic perspectives on navigating distressed situations and unlocking value in complex, cross-border environments. 

Related content 

• Pathway for future restructuring processes in the UAE
• Global Restructuring Outlook 2025