Ashraf Hendi is Partner and Head of Banking & Finance at GLA & Company, where he leads the firm’s banking teams across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Kuwait and Qatar, and advises multinational and regional banks on conventional and Islamic finance transactions, financial services regulation, PPP projects and finance documentation. His practice spans syndicated and bilateral facilities, project finance, acquisition finance, structured finance, asset-backed finance, receivables finance, securitisation, debt capital markets and Sharia-compliant structures including Murabaha, Ijara, Mudarabah and Istisna’.
Ashraf acts for lenders, borrowers, sponsors, financial institutions and corporates on complex cross-border banking mandates, with recent work involving Kuwait, Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. His sector experience includes energy and renewables, financial services, real estate development, tourism and hospitality, telecommunications, oil and gas, manufacturing, education, healthcare, insurance and payment services.
Recent highlights include advising CIB Egypt on an approximately USD 85 million UAE-Egypt renewable-energy financing supporting AMEA Power projects, including the 500 MW Amunet wind project, 500 MW Abydos solar project and a 1GW-plus BESS solar project. He also advised a syndicate of international and regional lenders led by Standard Chartered Bank on the USD 3 billion Az-Zour North Phase 2 and 3 IWPP in Kuwait and advised on the approximately USD 240 million refinancing of the Sulaibiya Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant. His UAE and KSA corridor work include TA Associates/Alephya finance and security arrangements involving USD 485 million senior secured commitments and a USD 123.34 million senior unsecured facility, UAE and KSA movable asset pledge arrangements for offshore equipment, and Saudi-related guarantee capacity and enforceability advice on NBE and Banque Saudi Fransi mandates.
Ashraf is recognised as a Rising Star Partner by IFLR1000, a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 EMEA, a Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year 2025 by Legal ERA, and an “Up and Coming Lawyer” by Chambers & Partners.
Education
- Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Master’s Degree, International and Comparative Law · (2008 – 2011)
- Ain Shams University Diploma, International Commercial Law · (2006 – 2007)
- Police Academy of Egypt, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Diploma of Police Sciences
Speaking Engagements & Publications
- Co-authored Thomson Reuters’ “Banking Regulation in Egypt: Overview” (2026)
- Webinar – PPPs and Project Finance in Kuwait: What Makes Projects Truly Bankable (November 2025)
- Webinar – Secure the Future: Fintech Regulations Across the Middle East (June 2025)
- Co-Authored Egypt: Lending & Secured Finance – Legal500 (2024)
- Co-Authored “Securitization” Chambers Global Practice Guides – Egypt (2024)
- Co-Authored “Banking & Finance” Chambers Global Practice Guides – Egypt (2019-2023)
- Co-Authored “Securitization in Egypt” GGI Insider – (2023)
- Trends and Developments – Banking & Finance Chambers Global Practice Guides – Egypt (2019-2023)
Professional Memberships
- Egyptian Bar Association
Recent Experience
Capital Markets
- Advised JPMorgan, Citibank, BNP Paribas and Natixis, on the USD 5 billion program of international bond issuance by the Egyptian government.
- Representing Halan for Consumer Finance S.A.E. in connection with an EGP 3 billion securitization transaction implemented though a bond issuance by Capital Securitization Company S.A.E. This transaction is part of a securitization program that includes multiple bonds issuances over a period of three years.
- Representing Tasaheel for Financing S.A.E. in connection with an EGP 13 billion securitization transaction implemented though a bond issuance by Capital Securitization Company S.A.E. This transaction is part of a securitization program that includes multiple bonds issuances over a period of three years.
- Representing Reefy Microfinance, the micro-financing arm of CI Capital, on its EGP 700 million securitized bonds issuance. This issuance was the first of a three-year program amounting to EGP 3 billion. The issuance included 3 tranches of bonds: the first valued at EGP 317 million, with a tenor of 6 months, received a Prime 1 rating from Middle East Ratings and Investor Services (MERIS). The second tranche, valued at EGP 273 million, with a tenor of 12 months, also received a Prime 1 rating. The third tranche, valued at EGP 110 million, with a tenor of 19 months, received a rating of A.
Banking & Finance (Conventional & Sharia-Compliant)
- Representation of Coca Cola Bottling Company in connection with a syndicated loan agreement in a finance given by several Egyptian banks, which included Commercial International Bank, HSBC Bank Egypt, Arab Bank, and Credit Agricole for an amount of EGP 2,454,349,000 or its equivalents in other currencies.
- Representation of Yanmu Logistics Parks in connection with securing a ten-year loan signed with the Commercial International Bank to cover part of the project’s construction and development costs. Transaction value EGP 1.5 billion.
- Representation of Sky Investments for the Ownership and Management of Projects S.A.E. – as the ultimate shareholder of Proger Egypt for Engineering and Management S.A.E. – in connection with a multi-tranche and multi-currency medium-term financing of USD 76,5 million and EGP 542 million granted by the Arab Investment Bank S.A.E. as Initial Mandated Lead Arranger and Facility Agent and Arab African International Bank S.A.E. as Initial Mandated Lead Arranger to finance the construction of the new headquarter of Petrobel – Belayim Petroleum Company in Egypt.
- Representation of El-Moher Car Trading, Import and Commercial Agencies “Abou Ghaly Motors” (AGM) – one of the leading companies in the automotive industry in Egypt – in connection with the financing extended from The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to finance AGM’s fleet of range-extended electric vehicle for its London Cab services.
- Representation of Middle East Glass Manufacturing Company in connection with a loan agreement with International Finance Corporation for an amount up to USD 100 million to re-finance existing debts of the company, certain capital expenditures and working capital requirements.
- Representation of Leoni Wiring Systems Egypt S.A.E. in connection with a USD 40 million and RON 50 million facility extended to it and its certain subsidiaries, by a group of lenders, under a Senior revolving facilities agreement (RFC). Leoni Wiring Systems Egypt S.A.E entering the RFC II as an additional borrower.
- Advised a syndication of Banque Misr, and several other Egyptian banks and international financial institutions, comprised of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Egypt S.A.E., Banque Misr S.A.E., Bank Audi, S.A.E., Banque du Caire, Export Development Bank of Egypt, Industrial Development Bank, Egyptian Arab Land Bank, Arab Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank – Egypt, Egyptian Gulf Bank, Alex Bank, United Bank and Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector in connection with the project finance of Al Nouran Sugar Manufacturing Company in an amount circa EGP 2.6 billion to finance the largest sugar manufacturing facility in Egypt.
- Representation of Vantage Capital in connection with a USD 23 million mezzanine financing extended to PickAlbatros Hotels by Vantage Capital – Africa’s largest mezzanine fund manager.
- Representation of Al Dau Al Haram for Hotels Operations S.A.E in connection with the financing of an amount of USD 12 million extended by EBRD.
- Representation of Uniboard for Paper & Cardboard Manufacturing Company in connection with Islamic Mudaraba and Ijara agreements by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank for a total amount of EGP 140,000,000 to finance the working capital of the company and its international supplies.
- Representation of Hassan Allam Holding in connection with a loan agreement for an amount of USD 20 million with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the purpose of acquiring assets in the water sector.
Projects, Energy & Infrastructure
- Advised Deutsche Bank, HSBC Middle East Limited and a group of other financial institutions, on the project finance extended to the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company for establishing a number of power stations in Egypt.
- Advised BNP Paribas SA and Société Générale, on the EUR 201 million project finance to the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company for establishing six power substations.
- Advised Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and HSBC Middle East Limited, on the project finance extended to the New Urban Communities Authority for the construction of administrative and residential towers in the New Administrative Capital.
Languages
- English
- Arabic