ahmed_el_sarkaoui_front_web_large

Ahmed El Sarkaoui BSc, MA

Associate
Dubai
About

Ahmed EL Sarkaoui is a project finance lawyer who helps banks and project sponsors finance large-scale power, renewable energy and infrastructure projects across Saudi Arabia, the wider Middle East and Central Asia.

He works on deals from term sheet through to financial close, turning commercial terms into bankable documents and keeping complex, multi-party transactions on track. Clients rely on him for both conventional and Islamic (Shariah-compliant) financing, from equity bridge loans to senior debt.

Ahmed’s work for lenders and sponsors includes negotiating finance documents, structuring Murabaha and Istisna-Ijara facilities, hedging under ISDA, taking and perfecting security under Saudi and UAE law, and delivering English-law and Saudi-law legal opinions. He also guides clients through the conditions precedent process so that projects reach financial close smoothly.

Before qualifying as a solicitor, Ahmed worked as a consultant on airport development projects and in legal project management. That background gives him a practical feel for project delivery, budgets and risk, which helps him run transactions efficiently for clients. He speaks Arabic, English and Greek, and contributes to pro bono projects for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).

Areas of FocusFinanceProjects and Project FinanceEnergy and Natural ResourcesPowerRenewablesMining and Mineral ResourcesInfrastructure, Construction and TransportReal Estate
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising a syndicate of banks on the financing of the Rumah 1 and Al Nairyah 1 combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) independent power plants (IPPs) in Saudi Arabia, developed by ACWA Power and the Saudi Electricity Company, with a combined capacity of 1.8 GW.
  • Acting for the lenders on the structuring and negotiation of the senior debt facilities for the Qurayyah (3.01 GW) and Rabigh (2.3 GW) CCGT IPPs in Saudi Arabia, developed by ACWA Power, HAACO and the Saudi Energy Company.
  • Advising a syndicate of banks on the Taiba 2 and Qassim 2 CCGT IPP projects procured by the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), with a combined capacity of 3.96 GW.
  • Advising the lenders on the financing of the 1.5 GW Dawadami IPP in Saudi Arabia, a power project led by KEPCO.
  • Advising on the financing of the Starah and Shaqra wind IPPs, multi-gigawatt wind projects under Round 5 of the PIF renewables programme in Saudi Arabia.
  • Advising a syndicate of banks on the project financing of the 3 GW Haden, Muwayh and Al Khushaybi solar PV cluster, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).
  • Advising a consortium of sponsors on the project financing of the 1.1 GW Al Henakiyah solar PV project under a power purchase agreement with SPPC, as part of Round 4 of Saudi Arabia's National Renewable Energy Program.
  • Advising the sponsors on the development and financing of the 300 MW Bash 2 wind power plant in Uzbekistan.
  • Advising a syndicate of banks on the Haradh and Wudayhi public-private partnership for Saudi Aramco, comprising two staff housing compounds for up to 2,800 employees.
Languages
  • Arabic
  • English
  • Greek

Pro Bono

  • Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): pro bono contributor to KIND projects
Education
  • University of Law, Legal Practice Course, Distinction, 2022
  • University of Law, Graduate Diploma in Law (MA), Distinction, 2020
  • Loughborough University, BSc Air Transport Management, First Class Honours, 2017

Prior Experience

  • 2022 to 2024, Trainee Solicitor, DLA Piper UK LLP
  • 2019 to 2022, Senior Specialist, Legal Project Management, London-based international law firm
  • 2017 to 2019, Consultant, Airport Development and Risk, Security and Resilience, London-based global engineering and design consultancy firm

Additional qualifications

  • Professional training in legal project management (matter scoping, planning, pricing and budgeting, reporting); process improvement; infrastructure project management (PRINCE2; Projects, Programmes and Portfolios (P3); project financial reporting).

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Assessed Member (2018–2019)
CallvCardLinkedInPrint

Connect

Phone

+97 144 386 135
(Work, Dubai)
+97 1 551 464 848
(Mobile)

Say Hello —