Find a Lawyer
Book an appointment with us, or search the directory to find the right lawyer for you directly through the app.
Find out more
Saudi Arabia: Transformation of the Kingdom
Welcome to the Saudi Arabia focus edition of Law Update.
One of the key markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that continues to lead from the front is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). As the largest country in the Middle East and the 18th largest economy in the world, the progress KSA continues to make is underpinned by its Vision 2030 that envisions developing the country as an investment powerhouse and hub that ultimately connects Asia, Europe, and Africa. Given Saudi Arabia’s significance to the regional economy, our team of experts have prepared a range of pertinent articles that provide insights into new laws, regulations, and the legal landscape in the Kingdom.
This edition will provide you with an up-to-date guide on matters such as; the framework issued by the Saudi Central Bank on IT governance, the anti-corruption landscape under Vision 2030; we also provide practical tips for dispute avoidance. This is only a snapshot; there are many more articles within the KSA focus section for you to read, which we hope you will find valuable and enjoyable.
Read the edition
A complete spectrum of legal services across jurisdictions in the Middle East & North Africa.
Dennis Ryan
Senior Associate
Biography
Dennis Ryan is a Senior Associate of the Banking & Finance and Venture Capital and Emerging Companies groups at Al Tamimi & Company, specialising in Investment Funds. Dennis restricts his practice to the establishment and regulatory compliance of Investment Funds in the DIFC, ADGM, the UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt and Qatar together with the establishment of Investment Funds globally in the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and Jersey. He brings with him 30 years of experience in Banking and Finance with a concentration in the formation and regulation of domestic, foreign and offshore investment funds including: private equity funds, venture capital funds, hedge funds, umbrella funds, Islamic funds, property funds (including REITS) and exchange traded funds. Dennis advises on the structuring of funds using various entities, including protected cell companies, incorporated cell companies, investment companies, investment trusts and limited partnerships, and works with listing exchanges for listing of public funds.
Dennis joined Al Tamimi in September 2019. Prior to being engaged by Al Tamimi & Company, Dennis was a Senior Counsel with Conyers Dill & Pearman (2007 to 2009 in the Cayman Islands and 2009 to 2018 in the DIFC in Dubai). Dennis was formerly an Adjunct Professor of Law offering two courses in Company Law and Business Law in the Business Degree Program – University College of the Cayman Islands. Prior to joining Conyers, Dennis was a senior partner at Fasken in Vancouver, Canada in the Corporate/Business Group. He was also the Head of Legal for a mid-size gold mining company located in Washington State with operations in Canada.
Dennis is also a prolific writer on articles on Islamic Finance, investment funds and offshore structures that have been published in journals including The Brief, The Oath, India Business Law Journal, Asian Counsel, Islamic Finance News, Hedgeweek, Hedge Funds Review, AIQ (Alternative Intelligence Quotient), STEP Journal, the Cayman Financial Review and the Al Tamimi & Company Law Update.
Recent Experience
- Structuring and establishing a complex open-ended DIFC Exempt Fund, Hedge Fund, Umbrella Fund structured as a Protected Cell Company (PCC)
- Assisting with the registration of the FIRST Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) Gold Exchange Traded Fund that will be listed on the Dubai Financial Market
- Advised a sponsor for the establishment of an open-ended fund to be structured as an ADGM Incorporated Cell Company (ICC) fund structure
- Assisting one of the world’s largest fund administrators with the preparation of a suite of management agreement templates including service agreements, fund management agreements, investment advisory agreements all relating to its operations in the ADGM
- Assisted a Hong Kong App developer with financing and structuring options
- Assisting clients with digital assets and digital currency regulation in the UAE and ADGM
- Assisted a sovereign wealth fund in the negotiation and preparation of a complex Investment Management Agreement
- Assisting an Australian and UK company in the establishment of an insurance special purpose vehicle in the ADGM that would guarantee the global projects to be financed by a $400 million rated bond fund
- Assisting with the establishment of various Cayman Islands funds, including private equity funds structured as Segregated Portfolio Companies
- Assisting clients with establishing Property Funds and REITs in the DIFC, the ADGM and the Cayman Islands
- Advising one of the largest investment banks in the region on the establishment of several ADGM Islamic financing structures to be used in the restructuring of a foreign sovereign wealth fund
- Preparing a complex multi-party shareholders’ agreement for a new DIFC Fund Manager
- Advising on the cross border promotion and marketing of foreign securities and products within the UAE, DIFC and ADGM
Language(s)
- English
Education
1990 – Juris Doctor, University of Alberta
1987 – Master of Education, University of Ottawa
1982 – Bachelor of Education (With Distinction), University of Alberta
1976 – Bachelor of Arts, University of Alberta
Admission
2014 – Full Member STEP – Arabia (Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners)
2012 – Legal Consultant, Emirate of Dubai
2007 – Admitted to practice as an Attorney-at-Law in the Cayman Islands
1993 – Law Society of British Columbia
1991 – Law Society of Alberta
Sector(s)
Insights
Stay updated
To learn more about our services and get the latest legal insights from across the Middle East and North Africa region, click on the link below.
