ARTICLE · 25 JULY 2017

Dubai Embraces PPP … Again

Allen & Overy LLP

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Dubai has joined the growing list of governments with a Public Private Partnership (PPP) specific law. The new law is more significant as a welcome sign of intent rather than anything game-changing at this stage.

United Arab EmiratesGovernment, Public Sector

Dubai has joined the growing list of governments with a Public Private Partnership (PPP) specific law. The new law is more significant as a welcome sign of intent rather than anything game-changing at this stage. There remain significant challenges to be overcome in order for the law to be effective.

THE BACKGROUND

PPPs in the UAE or the wider GCC are not new. They have historically been undertaken under project-specific legislation or approvals. Mubadala Development Company initiated PPPs in the UAE with UAE University in 2007, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in 2008 and Zayed University in 2009. Dubai has also previously partially embraced PPP in the form of operation and maintenance contracts (such as the Dubai Metro) rather than full PPPs. GCC governments have also had a successful history of quasi-PPPs in the electricity and water sectors (for example the ADWEA IWPP programme).

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