Dubai World

Not to be confused with Dubailand.

Dubai World
دبي العالمية

Type	Investment company (Government-owned)
Industry	Diversified Investments
Founded	2 July 2006
Headquarters	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Area served	30 cities in 12 countries
Key people	Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman
Products	Investment
Revenue	$18 billion USD (2008)
Operating income	$1.4 billion USD (2008)
Net income	$1.17 billion USD (2008)
Owner(s)	Public
Employees	5000+
Subsidiaries	Dubai Ports World Jafza Nakheel Dubai Drydocks Maritime City Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Tamweel Tejari Limitless Leisurecorp Istithmar Island Global Yachting Inchcape Shipping Services P&O Ferries
Website	www.dubaiworld.ae

Dubai World (Arabic: دبي العالمية‎) is an investment company that manages and supervises a portfolio of businesses and projects for the Dubai government across a wide range of industry segments and projects that promote Dubai as a hub for commerce and trading. It is the emirate's flag bearer in global investments and has a central role in the direction of Dubai's economy. Assets include DP World, which caused considerable controversy when trying to take over six US ports, and Nakheel, its property arm, which built The Palm Islands and The World developments, and Istithmar World, its investment company. It is chaired by Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

History

Dubai World was established under a decree ratified on 2 March 2006 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. He also holds the majority stake in Dubai World.

On 2 July 2006, it was launched as a holding company with more than 50,000 employees in over 100 cities around the globe. The group now has extensive real estate investments in the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Dubai World made headlines in March 2008 after its chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, threatened to take the fund's money out of Europe.^[1] Dubai World's threats came shortly after the European Union attempted to lay out "a set of principles for transparency, predictability and accountability" for sovereign wealth funds.^[2]

On November 26, 2009, Dubai World proposed to delay repayment of its debt^[3], which raised the risk of the largest government default since the Argentine debt restructuring in 2001. Dubai World, the investment vehicle for the emirate, asked to delay for six months payment on $26 billion of debt.^[4][5][6] The extent of the debt rattled many markets causing many indices to drop; including oil prices. U.S. stocks fell sharply but rebounded from their lows as investors concluded that the damage might be contained. The Dow Jones industrial average lost about 155 points, or roughly 1.5 percent, in a shortened trading day, and other stock averages also sank. Oil prices plunged as much as 7 percent before recovering some ground later in the day.

On December 12, 2010, Dubai named Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, head of Emirates airline and uncle of the state’s ruler, as chairman of Dubai World ^[7] in a board revamp a year after the company said it would halt loan repayments, roiling markets. The 51-year-old replaced Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.

2009 debt standstill

With the onset of the financial crisis of 2007–2010, Dubai's real estate market declined after a six-year boom. On November 25, 2009, the Dubai government announced that the company "intends to ask all providers of financing to Dubai World and [its subsidiary] Nakheel to 'standstill'^[8] and extend maturities until at least 30 May 2010".^[9] The company has laid off 10,500 employees worldwide.^[10] At that time, Dubai World had debts of $59-billion, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the emirate's US$80-billion debt.^[11] This includes a US$3.5-billion loan which the company was unable to repay by its December deadline.^[12]

In response to the government announced moratorium of Dubai World's debts, both Moody's and Standard & Poor's Investors Services heavily downgraded the debt of various Dubai government-related entities with interests in property, utilities, commercial operations and commodities trading. In Moody's case, the downgrade meant that the affected agencies lost their investment grade status.^[13]

Concerns over the fallout from Dubai's debt problems contributed to the main European stock indexes falling over 3% on 26 November. This was followed by drops in Asian stocks on 27 November. However the European stock markets rebounded as investors' fears subsequently subsided as they decided the estimated debt wasn't big enough to trigger a systemic failure in global financial markets. "For now, the market is taking the view that the Dubai debt issue may be a storm rather than a hurricane," said Jane Foley, a research director at Forex.com in London.^{[14][15][16][17]} The American markets were closed on 26 November but American stocks fell on the afternoon of 27 November as similar fears rattled Wall Street in a thinly-traded half-day session. The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) fell 155 points, or 1.5%, after closing 25 November at a 13-month high. The Dow had lost 233 points in the morning.^[18] Also, concerns of the crisis led to a sharp rally in the U.S. dollar and Japanese Yen against most other world currencies as these currencies had been perceived as "safe haven" currencies during times of uncertainty.^[19]

An unnamed senior official told news agencies on November 28 that Abu Dhabi, the wealthy capital of the United Arab Emirates, would "pick and choose" how to assist Dubai World. "We will look at Dubai's commitments and approach them on a case-by-case basis," the official told the Reuters news agency by telephone, adding: "It does not mean that Abu Dhabi will underwrite all of their debts." Meanwhile India's central bank governor said an assessment of the impact of Dubai's debt problems was needed before deciding on a response. "We should not react to instant news like this. One lesson of the crisis is that we must study the developments, and I think we must measure the extent of the problem there and how it impacts India," Duvvuri Subbarao said in Hyderabad, India.^[20]

A public statement on 30 November 2009, of the Dubai Finance Department Director-General, that the Dubai World debts are "not guaranteed by the government" appears to correctly reflect the legal position, as the Dubai Government were not required by the lenders, and nor did they provide, any contractual guarantees in respect of the Dubai World debt:

Officials in the United Arab Emirates tried on December 1 to calm investors and the public over the Dubai World debt crisis, and the company itself said it was seeking to renegotiate only the $26 billion in obligations held by its troubled real estate developer, Nakheel. It also said that it had hired Moelis & Company, the investment boutique headed by Ken Moelis, a former UBS banker, to be its adviser. Rothschild is also advising Dubai World. Shares in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were down for a second day, with both key indexes declining about 6%. On November 30, shares dropped in Dubai and Abu Dhabi by 7.3% and 8.3%, respectively.^[21]

On December 14, 2009 the Dubai government received $10 billion in surprise aid from Abu Dhabi for debt-laden Dubai World, which said it would use $4.1 billion of it to repay its Nakheel unit's Islamic bond maturing on the same day.^[22]

As of 24 January Dubai World's property assets have exceeded USD 120 billion, so that it could cover its debt of USD 57 billion.^[23]

Debt Deal

On May 20, 2010 Dubai World said that it had reached an agreement "in principle" with most of its bank lenders to restructure debt worth $23.5bn (£16.4bn). It would be left with debts of $14.4bn after the restructuring. But the deal must still be approved by other banks that were not involved in the negotiations. The terms of the restructuring, include converting $8.9bn of government debt into equity. The government of Dubai and Dubai World had tabled this offer to bank lenders in March 2010 after three months of negotiations.^[24]

Managed companies

Nakheel's man-made island Palm Jumeirah seen from the International Space Station on 2005.

• DP World, the third largest port operator in the world
• Economic Zones World
• Nakheel, known for residential estate development projects such as the Palm Islands, the Dubai Waterfront, The World and The Universe Islands
• Dubai Drydocks
• Dubai Maritime City
• Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
• Istithmar World
• Infinity World Development part owner of CityCenter^[25]
• Ikkibaa World
• Island Global Yachting
• Limitless
• Leisurecorp
• Inchcape Shipping Services
• Tejari
• TechnoPark
• P&O Maritime
• Discovery Gardens
• Tamweel

References

Dubai portal

1. ^ Prosser, David (1 March 2008). "Head of Dubai World threatens to take his money out of Europe". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/head-of-dubai-world-threatens-to-take-his-money-out-of-europe-790076.html. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
2. ^ O'Grady, Sean (26 February 2008). "EU to agree code of principles for sovereign wealth funds". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/eu-to-agree-code-of-principles-for-sovereign-wealth-funds-787357.html. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
3. ^ "Dubai distances itself from $63bn debts". MEED. 27 November 2009. http://www.meed.com/sectors/economy/government/dubai-distances-itself-from-63bn-debts/3001679.article. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
4. ^ "Dubai World to ask for more time to pay debts". MEED. 25 November 2009. http://www.meed.com/sectors/finance/bonds/dubai-world-to-ask-for-more-time-to-pay-debts/3002382.article. Retrieved 25 November 2009. 
5. ^ Cochrane, Laura; Harif, Tal Barak (26 November 2009). "Dubai Debt Delay Rattles Confidence in Gulf Borrowers (Update3)". Bloomberg News. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aRsjlClzl500. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
6. ^ "Press Release: Statement from Dubai World". NASDAQ Dubai. 30 November 2009. http://www.nasdaqdubai.com/resources/2009/12/1/9111f99a-888f-4a5d-924a-71ffcc8c79ff/Dubai%20World%20Statement.pdf. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
7. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-12/dubai-ruler-replaces-dubai-world-management-emirates-chairman-takes-over.html
8. ^ "Nakheel discusses $3.5bn repayment with Dubai World". MEED. 11 November 2009. http://www.meed.com/sectors/finance/bonds/nakheel-discusses-35bn-repayment-with-dubai-world/3002067.article. Retrieved 11 November 2009. 
9. ^ Hall, Camilla (25 November 2009). "Dubai Government Statements on Nakheel, $5 Billion Bond (Text)". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601104&sid=auMhyjedmkps. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
10. ^ Twin, Alexandra (30 November 2009). "Dubai World axes 10,500 jobs (Text)". MEED. http://www.meed.com/sectors/markets/company-news/dubai-world-axes-10500-jobs/3001411.article. Retrieved 30 November 2009. 
11. ^ Smith, Matt; Kiwan, Enjy (25 November 2009). "Dubai seeks debt delay, some units cut to junk". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE5AO4Z120091125. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
12. ^ "Dubai announces debt payment delay". BBC. 26 November 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/business/2009/11/091126_dubai_default.shtml. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
13. ^ Watts, William L. (26 November 2009). "Dubai woes roil financial markets: Stocks fall and government bonds rise on flight to quality". MarketWatch. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dubai-woes-roil-financial-markets-2009-11-26. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
14. ^ Alves, Fabio (27 November 2009). "WORLD FOREX: Dollar Trims Gains As Dubai Fears Subside". WSJ.com. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091127-708591.html?mod=rss_Currencies. Retrieved 28 November 2009. ^{[dead link]}
15. ^ Raja, Shani (28 November 2009). "Asia Stocks Drop for Second Week on Dubai, Share Sale Concerns". Bloomberg News. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aSBXa9w81ECM. Retrieved 28 November 2009. 
16. ^ Pylas, Pan (27 November 2009). "Dubai woes hit world stocks again; Asia down most". Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h3kgMAkbLwyfxBdjzw8Pc4KZ7DhQD9C7SGE80. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
17. ^ "European stocks rebound as Dubai worries abate". Sydney Morning Herald. 28 November 2009. http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/european-stocks-rebound-as-dubai-worries-abate-20091128-jxf7.html. Retrieved 28 November 2009. 
18. ^ Twin, Alexandra (27 November 2009). "Stocks slip on Dubai debt woes". CNNMoney.com. http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/27/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
19. ^ Mandaro, Laura; Watts, William L. (27 November 2009). "Dollar propelled higher by Dubai worries". MarketWatch. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-and-yen-buoyed-by-safe-haven-flows-2009-11-27. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
20. ^ "Abu Dhabi to 'assist' Dubai World". aljazeera.net. 28 November 2009. http://english.aljazeera.net/business/2009/11/20091128144913644499.html. Retrieved 28 November 2009. 
21. ^ "Dubai World Says Debt Negotiations Only Cover Nakheel". NYTimes.com. 1 December 2009. http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/dubai-world-says-debt-negotiations-only-nakheel/. Retrieved 1 December 2009. 
22. ^ TRANSCRIPT-Abu Dhabi gives Dubai $10 bln bailout
23. ^ http://www.arabianbusiness.com/579669-dubai-worlds-property-assets-exceed-120bn
24. ^ Dubai World agrees debt deal with key banks
25. ^ "Las Vegas' new retail center strikes LEED Gold". Chain Store Age. 22 October 2009. http://www.chainstoreage.com/%28S%28ds4mzt45vjminm45b5rg1mbz%29%29/story.aspx?id=119915&menuid=591. Retrieved 28 November 2009.