People

Overview

Haitham is the the Co-Head of the firm's Cross-Border M&A Practice and a partner based in Dubai in the firm's Corporate Practice Group. Haitham has extensive international and regional experience in international and local securities offerings, private equity, public and private M&A and complex joint venture transactions. Haitham is highly experienced in public company work covering both equity and debt transactions including IPOs, bond issuances, block trades, mergers, public tender offers and strategic investor investments. Haitham's Middle Eastern background, strong relationships with the local regulators and understanding of the culture enables him to structure and execute local and regional transactions seamlessly. Haitham is consistently ranked and recognized by all major legal directories for his work in the UAE and the wider Middle East region.

Haitham has been in the UAE since 2013 and prior to that held positions with leading international firms in Australia, Taipei, Jordan, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. Haitham is fully bilingual in English and Arabic.

“Haitham has the skills to support his clients and direct his team to deliver quality legal support without losing sight of the commercial aspects of transactions.”

Chambers Global – UAE Corporate / M&A 2024

"Haitham Hawashin is easily accessible and always responsive, which is an important quality from a client's perspective."

The Legal 500 EMEA - Commercial, Corporate and M&A 2022

"He is well versed in M&A transactions involving major regional financial institutions and also regularly acts for private equity clients."

Chambers Global - UAE Corporate/M&A 2021

"Haitham Hawashin plays a lead role on many standout transactions"

Chambers Global - UAE Corporate/M&A 2020

"Haitham Hawashin is a legal eagle; he thrives at getting his clients the right advice whilst always thinking five steps ahead" and "Haitham Hawashin was hands on and focused and wouldn't let any points be missed."

The Legal 500 EMEA - Commercial, Corporate and M&A 2020

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, 2001
  • Bachelor of Laws, Deakin University 1999
  • Master of Laws, University of Melbourne 1997
  • B.A., Civil Law, University of Jordan 1996

Experience

  • Shuaa Capital in relation to its group restructuring and capital optimization including restructuring its existing USD 150 million guaranteed notes through a successful consent solicitiation 
  • Awj Investments LLC, a highly successful Dubai-founded F&B group, on its sale to Kitopi in numerous jurisdictions
  • Saudi Research and Media Group, the largest integrated media group in the MENA region, on its joint venture with Qvest GmbH, a media-focused company and services provider, in Germany
  • Saudi Research and Media Group in connection with an investment by SRMG in Anghami Inc., a NASDAQ-listed company with operations based in the UAE
  • UK Egypt Investments Holding Limited in connection with the acquisition from Holding Company for Chemical Industries of a controlling stake in Egypt’s publicly listed cigarette manufacturer Eastern Company S.A.E.
  • GiB Capital in connection with a joint venture and investment with Design & Build Co for the development and financing and investment of a 109,000 square meter environmentally friendly wellness resort in KSA, via the offering of a Private Real Estate Fund
  • Dubai based GFH Partners Limited on the acquisition of assets in the United States in the US Medical Clinics and Student Housing Sectors
  • Yas Holding in connection with its acquisition of Ettihad Drugs Store LLC
  • Malaz Capital on the acquisition of a stake in Ram Medical Clinics Company, a leading healthcare service provider in Saudi Arabia that owns a chain of clinics specializing in dentistry and dermatology
  • GFH Financial Group with regards to acquisition, financing, fundraising and joint venture with Student Quarters involving real estate assets in the US LP, involving eight medical office properties located in the U.S.
  • GFH Financial Group in connection with an acquisition of an acquisition, financing, fundraising and joint venture with Big Sky Medical Income Fund
  • Qannas Investments Limited in connection with the restructuring of assets acquired from Tabarak Investments and the related sale of Tabarak International Investment, Al Rakaaiz Investment and White Avenue Investment, the holders of many listed securities traded on ADX and DFM
  • Eshraq Investments on the highly publicised reverse listing involving Eshraq Investments PJSC (ADX Listed) and the shareholders of Goldilocks Investments Holding Company
  • SHUAA Capital in connection with a US$30 million PIPE financing related to the proposed business combination between Anghami and Vistas Media Acquisition Company
  • Islamic Arab Insurance in connection with a proposed merger with Takaful Emarat PJSC in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates
  • Ithmar Capital Partners in connection with the reorganization of debt facilities extended by Ajman Bank to Thumbay Group
  • Uber B.V. on its US$3.1 billion acquisition of Careem, the largest provider of internet-led transportation in the Middle East*
  • ASMA Capital Partners, acting in its capacity as investment manager for the IDB Infrastructure Fund II, on its US$75 million pre-IPO investment into Brooge Petroleum and Gas Investment Company FZE (BPGIC), through the purchase of convertible notes issued by BPGIC's UK based parent company*
  • Abu Dhabi Financial Group on its merger with SHUAA Capital PSC, creating one of the largest financial services providers in the Middle East*
  • Amanat Holdings PJSC on the acquisition of a 69.3% shareholding in Royal Maternity Hospital Holding in Bahrain, the company that owns and operates The Royal Hospital for Women, from Venture Capital Bank*
  • Amanat Holdings PJSC on the acquisition of Middlesex University's Dubai campus from Abraaj Capital*
  • Abu Dhabi Financial Group in connection with its proposed acquisition of Abraaj's investment management business, which included Abraaj's rights and obligations in respect of a number of funds focused on growth markets such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Turkey*
  • Shuaa Capital psc on the placement of US$135 million Sukuk Al Ijarah issued the The First Group*
  • Shuaa Capital psc on the placement of US$35 million Sukuk Al Murabaha /Al Mudarabah /Al Musawamah issued by Gulf Navigation PJSC*
  • Integrated Financial Group, a group member of Abu Dhabi Financial Group,  on the sale to Shuaa Capital psc of 2 regulated financial services entities*
  • Emirates Digital Wallet in connection with a joint venture between 16 major banks in the UAE relating to the development and operation of a mobile wallet payment system in the UAE known as MWallet*
  • Acquisition of stakes in an Abu Dhabi based social infrastructure assets by Plutus Campus Holdings Limited from Mubadala Infrastructure Partners and Mubadala Investment Company and a related profit sharing investment arrangement with a fund managed by the largest alternative asset manager in Korea, KDB Infrastructure Investments Asset Management Company (“KIAMCO”), with principal participation from Hana Financial Investment Company*
  • NBK Capital and Gulf Capital on a club/co-investment transaction in connection a Jordanian retail manufacturer*
  • Ithmar Invest in connection with a US$50m private equity investment by Standard Chartered Private Equity in Al Jazeera Agriculture*
  • Abraaj Capital in connection with numerous private equity investments including The Entertainer FZ LLC, Mani Foods and many others*
  • Integrated Financial Group in connection with numerous co-investments with Investbridge including for the development of the Viceroy Hotel and Riah Towers in Dubai*
  • Takaful Emarat on its proposed acquisition of 100% of Al Hilal Takaful PSC from Al Hilal Bank PJSC*
  • ENGIE on its acquisition of 40% in Tabreed from Mubadala Investment Company and the transfer of shares under the new public company takeovers regime*
  • Yas Holding LLC in connection with numerous joint ventures entered into with international defence companies*

*Prior to Joining Baker Botts