Clyde & Co has advised Kent College LLC FZ on the sale and leaseback of the Kent College Dubai campus.

This is a landmark transaction which demonstrates the rise in acquisitions of real estate assets as a source of income generation in the UAE.

Clyde & Co's dedicated real estate and corporate teams supported Kent College LLC FZ throughout the course of the sale and leaseback transaction, including advising on the negotiation of the documentation as well as the applicable education regulatory framework, corporate structuring and real estate considerations. Kent College LLC FZ will continue to operate the school post transaction.

    Alexis Waller, Head of Real Estate & Hospitality for the Middle East, comments: "This transaction drew upon our team’s significant expertise in both the real estate and the education sectors. The deal is yet another instance of the use of the sale and leaseback model as an alternative means of financing growth in these sectors."

The Clyde & Co team was led by Alexis Waller, who was assisted by Scott Flint (Senior Associate – Real Estate), with additional specialist corporate and education regulatory support provided by Naji Hawayek (Partner – Corporate) and Rajiv Nawbatt (Senior Associate – Corporate).

    Shafiq Khoory on behalf of Kent College LLC FZ comments: "Alexis and Naji's knowledge of our business and the education sector was instrumental in securing a commercially successful completion."  

Clyde & Co is one of the only law firms in the Middle East with a dedicated education team capable of creating education deals, with particular strength in advising UK independent schools and universities on their arrangements with investors and local partners to establish branded campuses in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the wider region.