Debt Raising & Capital Advisory in the UAE

We advise on the full spectrum of debt instruments available in the UAE market, including: bilateral and syndicated term loans from UAE and GCC banks; revolving credit facilities; project finance; Islamic finance structures (murabaha, ijara, sukuk); mezzanine and subordinated debt; export credit agency-backed financing; and bonds and sukuk for larger issuers. The optimal instrument depends on your business profile, use of proceeds, security available, and risk appetite — we advise on all of these considerations before a financing structure is selected.

UAE banks focus on five key areas in their credit assessment: historical financial performance (typically 3 years of audited accounts); future cash flow projections and debt service coverage ratios; quality and value of security (real estate, business assets, or corporate guarantees); management quality, track record, and corporate governance; and the purpose and feasibility of the project or use of proceeds. MKonnect Global helps clients present each of these dimensions compellingly — and to address potential weaknesses in the credit narrative before lenders raise them.

A typical bilateral bank facility from UAE lenders takes 8–16 weeks from initial approach to financial close, depending on bank credit processes and complexity of the transaction. Syndicated transactions involving multiple lenders typically take 12–20 weeks. Sukuk issuances and bond transactions typically require 16–24 weeks due to rating agency, regulatory, and documentation requirements. We work to compress these timelines by ensuring excellent preparation and managing the process with a strong sense of urgency.

Islamic finance structures (sukuk, murabaha, ijara etc.) are asset-backed financing instruments that comply with Sharia principles — principally avoiding interest (riba) and excessive uncertainty (gharar). They are available to businesses of all ownership structures and are widely used by non-Muslim owned enterprises in the UAE. In some cases, Islamic finance can offer more competitive pricing and longer tenors than conventional alternatives — particularly for real estate and infrastructure assets. MKonnect Global has deep expertise in Islamic finance structuring and can advise on the optimal conventional vs. Islamic approach for your transaction.

Lenders typically require: 3 years of audited financial statements; 12-24 month management accounts; a detailed financial model with 5-year projections including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow; a comprehensive information memorandum covering business overview, industry context, and transaction rationale; details of existing debt obligations and security; and supporting information on assets to be used as security. MKonnect Global assists with all aspects of this documentation preparation, ensuring materials are presented in the format and standard expected by institutional lenders.