Zaid is an Iraqi, US and English-qualified banking and restructuring partner based in Riyadh.
Zaid began his practice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1996, and primarily focuses on advising lenders, borrowers and sponsors on the full spectrum of Shari’ah-compliant and conventional financings and other extensions of credit in the Kingdom, and debtors, creditors and other stakeholders in distressed debt situations, restructurings and bankruptcy procedures.
Zaid is recognized as a leading lawyer in the Saudi banking and finance sphere by Chambers (Band 1), Legal 500 (Leading Partner) and IFLR 1000 (Highly Regarded). A Chambers’ report notes that Mr. Al-Farisi is “a ‘seasoned lawyer’ with an impressive profile in the market, attracting high praise from peers and clients alike. He frequently advises on high-value loan facilities. According to sources, he is ‘very meticulous, speaks his mind and always looks two steps ahead’.” Zaid is Co-Chair of INSOL International’s Middle East and North Africa Advisory Council.
Zaid completed his secondary school education in Riyadh Schools and received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame. He received his J.D. from The University of Chicago.
Latest Insights
Development and Real Estate Finance
- Advising Jeddah Economic Company Limited, the owner and developer of the Jeddah Economic City Project, and Alinma Investment Company, the fund manager of Alinma Jeddah Economic City Real Estate Fund, on the SAR 3.6 billion (approximately US$960 million) financing for the development of the project, including the kilometer-high tower, which is anticipated to be the tallest structure in the world upon completion.
- Advised Jabal Omar Development Company in connection with its SAR 6 billion sale and lease back of various assets in Makkah including three hotels (the Makkah Conrad, the Hilton Makkah, and the Hyatt Regency Makkah) and Al-Khalil Shopping Center to Alinma Investment Company.
- Advised a major Saudi Arabian real estate developer in connection with SAR 6 billion of financing extended by Saudi banks to support its projects in Saudi Arabia.
- Advised Jabal Omar Development Company in connection with a substantial facility extended by two major Saudi banks.
- Advised a club of Saudi Banks in connection with an SAR 2 billion Shari’ah-compliant financing extended to a Saudi company for the acquisition of land with an aggregate area in excess of 5 million sqm.
- Advised Alinma Bank in an SAR 1.7 billion Shari’ah-compliant refinancing of a facility extended to a major mall developer in Saudi Arabia.
- Advised a club of Saudi Banks in connection with an SAR 1.7 billion Shari’ah-compliant financing extended to a Saudi company for the acquisition of land with an aggregate area in excess of 13 million sqm.
- Advised the fund manager of a Saudi real estate development fund in connection with an SAR 1.35 billion Shari’ah-compliant financing for the development of a mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Advised a club of Saudi Banks in connection with the SAR 1.3 billion refinancing of a commercial tower in the King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Advised the fund manager of a Saudi real estate development fund in connection with an SAR 800 million Shari’ah-compliant financing for the development of a mall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Advised the fund manager of a Saudi real estate development fund in connection with an SAR 680 million Shari’ah-compliant financing for the development of a residential compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Advised a major Saudi Arabian bank in connection with an SAR 500 million financing for the development of infrastructure for three properties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Advised Alinma Bank in an SAR 400 million Shari’ah-compliant facility extended to a Saudi Arabian company in connection with the development of a hotel in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
- Advised the borrower in connection with an SAR 400 million Istisna – forward Ijarah facility extended by Gulf International Bank for the construction of a hotel and rehabilitation centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Advised the fund manager of a Saudi real estate development fund in connection with an SAR 132.5 million Shari’ah-compliant financing for the construction of more than 100 housing units in Saudi Arabia.
- Advised the fund manager of a Saudi real estate development fund in connection with an SAR 120 million Shari’ah-compliant financing for the construction of two residential towers in Saudi Arabia.
- Advised Banque Saudi Fransi in connection with an SAR 98 million Shari’ah-compliant financing in relation to the development of a hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Project Finance
- Advised General Electric and Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur), the sponsors, in connection with a Shari’ah-compliant facility extended by a Saudi Arabian bank to the project company established to develop a gas turbines production facility in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
- Advised a consortium of Masdar and EDF in connection with the financing documents for the Dumat Al-Jandal 400MW wind farm in Saudi Arabia.
- Advised ACWA Holding in the project financing of the largest industrial gases deal in the world. The project, to be procured on a build-own-operate basis, is for the construction of a US$2 billion air separation unit for the supply of industrial gases to Saudi Aramco at Jizan. It is the first project financing of an air separation unit in the Middle East and the only such project to have been financed wholly on a Shari’ah-compliant basis. The deal was awarded “Project Finance Deal of the Year” by Islamic Finance News.
- Advised Saudi Tabreed District Cooling Company in connection with Shari’ah-compliant project financing facilities extended by two major Saudi banks for the construction of a district cooling project at King Khaled International Airport Riyadh, in the first project in the Gulf involving the outsourcing of utilities at an airport to the private sector.
- Advised Miahona Company in connection with Shari’ah-compliant project financing facilities extended by two major Saudi banks for the construction of a potable water project at King Khaled Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Acquisition Finance
- Advised a major investment company in connection with the financing of its strategic acquisition of shares in one of Saudi Arabia’s leading supermarket and hypermarket groups.
- Advised the borrower in relation to a US$232 million facility in connection with an acquisition of membership interests in a company.
- Advised Arab National Bank in a US$200 million financing for a cross-border acquisition of assets.
- Advised a fund manager of a Saudi real estate fund in connection with a Shari’ah-compliant financing for the acquisition of three income-producing properties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Advised the club of Saudi and regional banks in the restructuring of an SAR 250 million acquisition financing in Saudi Arabia.
- Moderating panel at INSOL International Offshore Meeting; “Shifting Sands: The Middle East in Offshore Practice”, London, 20 April 2026
- Interview with REDD; “Saudi Arabia Moves to Formalise Out-of-Court Restructurings”, 28 April 2026
- Iraq (2023)
- Illinois, United States of America (2001)
- New York, United States of America (1999)
- England and Wales (1997)