A&O Shearman' team has 'experience gained over many years, across many borders, and across many products, making them a 'go to'' in the region. The firm further cemented its market-leading position through blockbuster transactions such as advising on Adnoc Gas' IPO as well as the first concurrent dual-listing on the UAE stock exchange in the form of Americana Restaurants International Plc's IPO. Anzal Mohammed, who has knowledge of Islamic financing, jointly leads the practice with Khalid Garousha, who has an extensive IPO record. Bilal Ahmad is proficient in equity-linked security issues, hybrid capital issues, and liability management transactions. Counsel Nazuma Hassan is building an impressive portfolio in this space.

Clifford Chance is equally proficient handling equity and debt capital markets matters, advising on landmark IPOs in the UAE and the wider region, as well as transactions for sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, and corporates. The firm has played a crucial role in IPOs involving Taaleem Holdings, Americana Restaurants, and Al Ansari Financial Services and frequently collaborates with colleagues in the firm's London office. Mike Taylor is predominantly engaged with high-profile IPOs, and is lauded for his 'in-depth knowledge of the market' and Stuart Ure focuses on structured finance and conventional and Islamic debt capital markets. Senior associate Rezwan Azam has a 'broad knowledge of the entire transaction spectrum'.

Linklaters's expertise ensures that the team is sought out by numerous established corporates and financial institutions for blockbuster transactions in the region. The firm has been active in a variety of complex IPOs, including first-of-its-kind transactions in the ADX and overseas listings, while on the debt side the team has been notably active on a range of sukuk issuances. Jonathan Fried works with a global portfolio of banks and corporates on an array of instructions and Scott Campbell is a leading figure in the public M&A and equities space. Dalia Nammari, who is well versed across Islamic finance transactions, is regularly supported by counsel Peter Cullen. Sergey Shiposha is active on a growing volume of ESG transactions.

White & Case LLP is well positioned to act on a range of market transactions, including some of the largest IPOs in the Middle East and specialise in sovereign bonds and Sukuk offerings, in addition to project bond issuances. The group’s experienced practitioners advise a variety of parties engaged in capital markets work including sellers, buyers, underwriters and hedge providers. Debashis Dey is highly regarded for his securitisation and fixed income experience. Sami E. Al-Louzi's expertise was crucial to the IPO of DEWA and Abdulwahid Alulama brings near-unparalleled regulatory understanding to bear on a number of transactions. Greg Pospodinis and senior associate Marcin Zawadzki are also noted. Ibrahim Soumrany left the firm.

Al Tamimi & Company has an impressive track record record in IPOs in the DFM and ADX, areas where Andrew Tarbuck has a key focus. The team is also well positioned to advise on bond and Sukuk issuances, securitatisations, deposit-linked notes, and mortgage-backed securities, key strengths of Rafiq Jaffer. Husam Hourani  is noted for his experience of major capital markets transactions, bringing astute regulatory understanding to his counsel. Hamzah Abu-Hassan lends support on a number of mandates from the firm's Jordan office.

Dentons' team advises issuers, arrangers and underwriters on substantial transactions. The firm is noted for its ESG work, advising on the first corporate green issuance in the Middle East as well the largest ESG sukuk in the world. Team head Alex Roussos has led on high-profile deals for a mix of leading industry players that include regional and international banks. Senior associate James Osun-Sanmi has provided support on a number of key practice mandates, and has experience working with both governments and general corporate clients.

Gibson Dunn‘s capital markets team has grown recently with the arrivals of Marwan Elaraby and Jade Chu who joined from Shearman & Sterling LLP in October 2022 and January 2023 respectively, and Ibrahim Soumrany  in early 2024 from White & Case LLP. Elaraby is ‘a clear leader in the capital markets space, with unrivalled deal flow, transactional experience, and relationships’ and Chu brings additional regulatory and cross-border transactional knowledge to the group. The team has advised on a number of blockbuster IPOs, including acting as issuer’s counsel on ADNOC’s listing on the ADX, as well as advising the joint bookrunners on Salik’s IPO and listing on the DFM.

Ibrahim & Partners' team has close connections with the government of Dubai, acting on the landmark IPOs of DEWA, Empower and Tecom. The team also provide transactional counsel on deals structured through the issuance of convertible bonds. Ahmed Ibrahim has vast experience advising on equity capital markets and has an impressive portfolio of work across the Middle East and GCC. Malack El Masry assists with IPO and rights issues, alongside general corporate and commercial matters. Senior associate Nour Al Jafari leverages nine years of in-house experience at a publicly listed insurance company to advice on a range of queries.

Latham & Watkins LLP is noted for its debt capital markets work, advising on complex bond deals and assisting a range of clients with conventional and Sukuk transactions. The firm also acts for sovereign wealth funds in the UAE and Saudi Arabia on a range of capital markets transactions and financings. Practice head Nomaan Raja is a prolific debt and equity capital market practitioner who is renowned for his expertise in high-yield bonds. Basil Al-Jafari acts for government-related entities and financial institutions and has been active in a number of market firsts.

The wide ranging practice at A&O Shearman covers the full gamut of capital markets work, with a strong track record on IPOs. Pawel Szaja has a mixed ECM and DCM practice and has been involved in substantial offerings on the ADX. Senior associate Kasia Lebiecki is also noted.

Akin's team is a frequent port of call for international corporates and financial institutions who rely on the firm's strong multi-jurisdictional reach for their capital markets work. Recent work includes assisting European banks issue capital on the Irish Stock Exchange, advising on offerings out of Jordan, and acting for various Asian clients on their initial Sukuk issuances. Rizwan Kanji is handles transactions on both a conventional and Shariah compliant basis. Associate Nicola Minervini is also noted.

Norton Rose Fulbright advises on structured products, equity-linked issuances, securitisations, and a number of Sukuk issuances for large financial players. The group also closely collaborates with colleagues across its network to act on global equity offerings for multinational companies. Zubair Mir is sought out by clients for transactional advice. Hamed Afzal has notable expertise in both the equity and debt space and has a strong understanding of a number of regional markets.

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP's team handles a range of debt capital markets work and is a strong choice for banks and financial institutions in the region. In recent work, the group has advised on unique Tier 2 bond issuances in the UAE and debt structurings involving clients based in the Qatar Financial Centre. Lee Irvine is active in international Sukuk transactions and debt offerings and equity capital markets. Muneer Khan brings astute regulatory know-how to a range of capital market mandates.