Corporate Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Insolvency
Helping Businesses Recover, Restructure, and Grow.
Restructuring & Insolvency Legal Advisory in the UAE
If your business in Dubai or Abu Dhabi has cash flow problems, mounting debts or is under financial pressure then you require clarity to protect your company. A lot of business owners get worried when payments become difficult.
At Moores Rowland, we offer restructuring and insolvency advisory services in the UAE. Our team in Dubai and Abu Dhabi helps business owners, directors, creditors and shareholders understand their options and find the safest route forward.
We offer simple, practical advice that protects your interests and adheres to UAE laws whether you need to restructure your debt, negotiate with creditors or deal with a formal insolvency process in the UAE.
Companies in distress should move fast to create value, minimize risk, and stay in line with regulatory requirements. MRI is a UAE-based insolvency legal consultancy that advises companies, creditors, shareholders, and directors on complex insolvency and restructuring situations.
Our legal consultants mix local legal expertise with global best practice to provide cost-effective, outcome-based advice that responds to the emerging legal environment in the UAE.
What Is Business Restructuring and Insolvency in the UAE?
Business restructuring is the process of reorganising a company’s debts or operations so that it can continue to operate. Insolvency is the inability of a company to pay its debts as they fall due. Under UAE law, businesses facing financial distress have a range of formal options- from negotiating with creditors to formal debt restructuring and, where appropriate, orderly closure of the company.
These options are governed by Federal Decree-law No. 51 of 2023 on Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy which entered into force on 1 May 2024, replacing the earlier Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2016. The new law has established specialized Bankruptcy Courts in the UAE, making the process faster and more business friendly as compared to earlier.
Acting early is critical. The more time you have, the more options are available to you.
Warning Signs Your Business Needs Restructuring or Insolvency Advisory in UAE
Many business owners wait too long before seeking help. If any of the following apply to you, it is time to speak with an experienced advisory team:
- You cannot meet payroll, supplier payments, or bank loan repayments on time
- Creditors or banks are threatening legal action or court proceedings
- Your company's liabilities exceed its total assets
- You are considering new debt just to pay off existing debt
- Directors or shareholders are worried about personal liability
- You have received a legal notice or court summons related to unpaid debts
- The earlier you seek advisory support, the better the outcome is likely to be.
Call Our Team
If your company is in financial trouble in Dubai or Abu Dhabi don’t wait. Contact Moores Rowland today to discuss your restructuring or insolvency options under UAE law in confidence.
Our Restructuring & Insolvency Advisory Services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Corporate Debt Restructuring Advisory UAE
The most common and practical option for a business in financial difficulty is often debt restructuring. It means renegotiating your existing debts – changing repayment timelines, reducing interest or converting debt into equity – so the business can continue operating.
Our advisory team helps you:
- Renegotiate payment terms
- Convert debt into equity where suitable
- Reduce overall debt burden through agreed plans
- Protect personal guarantees where possible
This process aims to give your business some timeline to pay the debts while treating creditors in fair manner.
Preventive Settlement Under UAE Bankruptcy Law
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023, a business in financial difficulty — but not yet insolvent — can apply for a Preventive Settlement. This is a formal mechanism where the company presents a recovery plan to the Bankruptcy Court and requests a temporary pause on creditor claims while the plan is approved.
This replaced the old preventive composition procedure and is now much easier for businesses in the UAE. We check if your business qualifies, prepare the required documents and guide you through the court process in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Financial Restructuring Proceedings in the UAE
In the event that a preventive settlement is insufficient, formal financial restructuring proceedings may commence. The court-appointed trustee works with the business to develop a plan to detail how debts will be repaid, how operations will be reorganized and what assets may need to be moved or sold.
We represent debtors, creditors and shareholders in this process – to ensure their rights are fully protected and the restructuring plan is workable and legally compliant.
Bankruptcy Advisory and Court Representation
Where a business can no longer be saved, the UAE Bankruptcy Law offers a structured process of managed bankruptcy. A trustee is appointed, company assets are inventoried, and creditors are paid in an orderly manner through the Bankruptcy Court.
We support businesses, directors and creditors through every stage, from initial filing to final resolution, providing full compliance and ensuring our clients are not personally exposed to unnecessary risk.
Director Duties and Liability During Financial Distress
Directors and managers of UAE companies carry serious legal responsibilities when a business is in financial trouble. Failing to act in time, continuing to trade while knowingly insolvent, or missing court filing deadlines can result in personal liability under UAE law.
We guide directors and shareholders to understand exactly what their duties are, what the steps are which they should take, and how to protect themselves while acting in the interests of the company and its creditors.
Creditor Rights and Debt Recovery Advisory in the UAE
If your business is owed money by a company that has gone into financial distress or formal insolvency proceedings, we can help you to protect your position and recover what you are owed. The new UAE Bankruptcy Law provides secured creditors with stronger rights to enforce directly through the Bankruptcy Court (without any separate enforcement proceedings).
We advise secured and unsecured creditors, banks and investors on the best way to recover debt in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Voluntary Liquidation and Business Wind-Down in the UAE
Closing down the business the right way is sometimes the best choice. Voluntary liquidation makes it possible for a company to properly exit the market, settle all outstanding debts, meet all regulatory obligations and distribute remaining assets to its shareholders.
We support businesses in a complete voluntary liquidation process and help them wind down their affairs effectively and without unnecessary legal hassles in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Why Choose Moores Rowland for Insolvency Advisory in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
- Knowledge of Current UAE law – We deal with Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023 and its 2024 Executive Regulations (Cabinet Resolution No. 94 of 2024) as applied by UAE courts today.
- Plain-language advice – we will explain your options in plain English, without unnecessary legal terms.
- Comprehensive UAE coverage – we advise businesses in the mainland, in free zones and across the DIFC and ADGM frameworks.
- Commercial focus – we seek practical solutions, not just legal ones.
- Total confidentiality — all financial distress matters are handled discreetly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the difference between restructuring and insolvency in the UAE?
Restructuring means reorganising a company’s debts or operations so it can continue trading. Insolvency means the company can no longer meet its financial obligations. Restructuring is what you do in order to avoid formal insolvency.
Q2. Can creditors force a company into bankruptcy in the UAE?
Yes. Under the new Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023, creditors can file bankruptcy proceedings against the debtor if he fails to pay a clear, undisputed debt that meets the legal requirement, and does not respond to a 30-day payment warning.
Q3. What happens to directors when a company becomes insolvent in the UAE?
Directors have specific legal duties in insolvency. They can also be personally liable to any losses if they keep trading insolvent or do not take the necessary legal steps. Getting good advice early greatly reduces the risk.
Q4. How long does a restructuring process take in the UAE?
It can take weeks to a few months to informally restructure debt. Preventive settlement and court-supervised restructuring generally take several months to over a year, depending on the complexity of the case and the number of creditors involved.
Q5. Do DIFC and ADGM companies follow the same insolvency rules as mainland UAE?
No. DIFC and ADGM have their own independent insolvency laws and courts. Mainland UAE insolvency law does not apply to them.