Profile

Abdullah is US qualified lawyer who advises on banking and finance, with a special focus on Islamic finance matters. With an established expertise in Islamic law with particular focus on financial transactions, he has advised numerous times on structuring financing deals, converting conventional financial strategies into Shariah-compliant structures, and FinTechs. His practice also includes range of legal areas spanning corporate, commercial, estate planning, and regulatory matters.

Abdullah has also advised high-net-worth individuals and families in the Middle East on structuring foundations, and family wealth and governance frameworks. He also has experience in Islamic estate planning in the United States. His experience extends across multiple sectors and industries within the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

Expertise
  • Banking & Finance
  • Corporate
  • Private Wealth
  • Regulatory
Experience

Abdullah’s experience includes advising:

  • Partners for Growth, a private debt-growth firm, on multiple conventional and Islamic financings across Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates
  • Multiple financial technology firms expanding in and across the GCC
  • Bespoke Ijara agreement in relation to a multinational debt financing for a leading Islamic financing firm
  • Multiple Murabaha debt financings in relation to support multiple Saudi real-estate finance company’s expansions
  • Accession of Saudi guarantor to large acquisition financing of a German company for a large regional European bank and related security
  • A range of international clients on regulatory issues involving the Saudi Capital Markets Authority, the Saudi Central Bank, and other regulators
  • Prominent Saudi and international families on family governance structuring and wealth planning
  • Aosphere, a service by a leading international law firm providing complex legal analysis in Saudi spanning derivatives, securities, shareholder disclosures, cross border lending, and more
Qualifications

Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, USA
  • B.A., Islamic Law and Theology, Zaytuna College, USA

Admission

  • California Bar Association
Languages
  • Arabic
  • English