Basel B. Barakat

Mr. Barakat specializes in banking and finance transactions, including project finance, Islamic finance and corporate finance, and is recognized as a leading lawyer in IFLR1000, Chambers Global, Legal 500, PLC Which Lawyer, Legal Experts: Europe Middle East and Africa, Global Law Experts, CorporateINTL and The Best Lawyers International. Mr. Barakat has advised on numerous high-profile financings for independent water and power projects including advising the sponsors on the award-winning US$ 2.5 billion Shuaibah III IWPP (Saudi Arabia's first IWPP) and its subsequent expansion, the US$ 2.0 billion Shuqaiq II IWPP (Saudi Arabia's second IWPP) and the US$ 2.5 billion Rabigh IPP (Saudi Electricity Company's first IPP) and advising the lenders on the US$ 2.795 billion Qurayyah IPP (Saudi Electricity Company's third IPP the world’s largest IPP to date). Mr. Barakat has also advised on numerous high-profile infrastructure projects including advising the lenders on the award-winning US$ 450 million Islamic project financing for Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company's third container terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port (the first Saudi Arabian private greenfield BOT container terminal project), advising the sponsors on the award-winning US$ 205 million Islamic project financing for the Hajj Terminal Complex at King Abdulaziz International Airport (the first Islamic BTO transaction of its kind in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia's first airport PPP project) and advising the sponsors on US$ 1.2 billion Islamic project financing arrangement for the Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport PPP (Saudi Arabia's second airport PPP project). His recent petrochemicals work includes advising the lenders on the US$ 458 million NatPet project financing. Mr. Barakat is continuously involved in major Islamic financing transactions and his recent high-profile Islamic financing representations include advising in relation to the SAR 2.975 billion Islamic facilities for the expansion works of the Mosque of the Prophet Mohammed, the SAR 3.726 billion Islamic facilities for the construction works of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, the SAR 4.75 billion Islamic facilities for the construction works of Princess Noura Bint Abdulrahman University for Women, the SAR 5.5 billion Islamic facilities for the construction works of King Abdullah Financial District and the SAR 8.5 billion Islamic facilities for the development works of King Abdulaziz International Airport. The 2012 edition of Chambers Global notes that Mr. Barakat “is widely respected by his peers. One source commented: ‘His work has been outstanding; we have found him to be highly competent, efficient and committed.’” The 2012 edition of IFLR1000 notes that the firm is “recognized by the market as having an excellent finance practice, with Basel Barakat highly regarded by rival lawyers. ‘Basel is an excellent lawyer. He has been around a long time and really understands the market,’ says one.” The 2012 edition of Legal 500 notes that the firm “provides ‘an international level of service combined with a deep understanding of local laws, regulations and practices’, with ‘truly first-class lawyer’ Basel Barakat singled out as ‘highly experienced, perfectly bilingual and extremely dedicated.’”