Dubai World to receive $9.5 billion in government aid

This is the stable version, checked on 10 May 2023. Template changes await review.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The government of Dubai announced that it intends to provide $9.5 billion to Dubai World to allow the government-owned investment company to restructure its debt.

The announcement comes as part of Dubai World's plan to restructure more than $23 billion of debt, including converting nearly $9 billion of debt into equity, after its collapse last fall. The package includes $8 billion of funding to Nakheel, Dubai World's real estate subsidiary, as well as $1.5 billion to Dubai World as a whole. The restructuring plan also seeks to, within eight years, repay all of Dubai World's creditors.

According to the government of Dubai, $5.7 billion of the aid was from a former $10 billion loan to Dubai World, with the remainder being internally funded. The plan would transfer ownership of Nakheel, formerly a subsidiary of Dubai World, to the direct control of the Dubai government.

Response to the deal was largely positive, with one analyst saying the move "boosts sentiment because this is a strong commitment." Christopher Davidson, author of books on Dubai and Abu Dhabi, said that while the new funding would "keep the wolves outside the gates a little longer," the government could not be the sole funder of Dubai World and Nakheel.

"Dubai receives bailout from Abu Dhabi" — Wikinews, December 14, 2009


Sources