Al Tamimi & Company (Al Tamimi) advised Yalla Group Limited (Yalla) on its initial public offering (IPO) of American Depositary Shares (ADSs) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) – the first UAE-based technology company to do so.

Yalla is the largest voice-centric social networking and entertainment platform in MENA by revenue and has users across the Middle East including the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. Yalla operates the popular entertainment community and online chatting applications “Yalla” and “Yalla Ludo”, a game application allowing users to play online Ludo and Dominoes games.

Al Tamimi Partner and Head of Capital Markets, Andrew Tarbuck, commented: “We are delighted to be an integral part of the deal team to successfully conclude this US IPO despite challenging market conditions.  It is great to see a truly global IPO involving a UAE based technology company predominantly operating in the Middle East with Asian founders listing on the NYSE.  This is also a key marker in the development of the UAE’s digital economy.”

Al Tamimi represented the issuer in respect of the laws of the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and KSA in the IPO. The team was led by Partner & Head of Capital Markets, Andrew Tarbuck, with support from Senior Associate, Anna Robinson. Advice was also provided on regulatory and licensing matters by Partners Nick O’Connell, Philip Kotsis, Frank Lucente and Senior Counsel, Andrew Fawcett. Al Tamimi worked closely with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett as US counsel to Yalla.

Key Contact:

Andrew Tarbuck
Partner, Head of Capital Markets
a.tarbuck@tamimi.com