Key Takeaways
- • Akin Gump secured "Aviation Deal of the Year" at the Global Banking Markets Awards: Middle East 2026 for legal advisory work on a USD $1 billion dual-tranche financing transaction for Avolon Aerospace Leasing Ltd.
- • The transaction represented Avolon's entry into the Islamic finance market, combining conventional and Sharia-compliant financing structures in a single deal.
- • The award validates strong institutional appetite in the Middle East for high-quality aviation financing, a key growth vector for the region's capital markets.
- • Akin's deal team was led by finance partner Rizwan Kanji, supported by counsel Andrew Heller and Sahar Abas.
Summary
Akin Gump has been recognized with the "Aviation Deal of the Year" award at the Global Banking Markets Awards: Middle East 2026, honoring the firm's role as legal adviser on a landmark USD $1 billion financing for Avolon Aerospace Leasing Ltd. The transaction represents a significant milestone in regional aviation finance, combining both conventional and Islamic-compliant financing tranches within a single structure—marking Avolon's inaugural entry into the Islamic finance market.
The dual-tranche approach reflects the sophistication of Middle Eastern capital markets and the growing institutional preference for structures that accommodate both conventional and Sharia-compliant investor bases. This flexibility has become essential for large-scale aviation transactions in the region, where Islamic finance institutions command substantial deployment capacity and play a critical role in asset-based financing.
The recognition underscores robust market demand for high-quality aviation financing opportunities in the Middle East. The aviation leasing sector remains capital-intensive and structurally attractive, given the region's geographic positioning, airline growth trajectories, and availability of institutional liquidity. Avolon's strategic pivot into Islamic finance suggests confidence in the durability and competitiveness of structures tailored to regional investor preferences.
Akin's award-winning team, headed by finance partner Rizwan Kanji with counsel support from Andrew Heller and Sahar Abas, demonstrates the firm's established expertise in cross-border aviation transactions and Islamic finance integration. The award recognizes not only deal execution but also the legal innovation required to structure complex dual-tranche financings that satisfy divergent regulatory and religious compliance frameworks across a single obligor relationship.
The dual-tranche approach reflects the sophistication of Middle Eastern capital markets and the growing institutional preference for structures that accommodate both conventional and Sharia-compliant investor bases. This flexibility has become essential for large-scale aviation transactions in the region, where Islamic finance institutions command substantial deployment capacity and play a critical role in asset-based financing.
The recognition underscores robust market demand for high-quality aviation financing opportunities in the Middle East. The aviation leasing sector remains capital-intensive and structurally attractive, given the region's geographic positioning, airline growth trajectories, and availability of institutional liquidity. Avolon's strategic pivot into Islamic finance suggests confidence in the durability and competitiveness of structures tailored to regional investor preferences.
Akin's award-winning team, headed by finance partner Rizwan Kanji with counsel support from Andrew Heller and Sahar Abas, demonstrates the firm's established expertise in cross-border aviation transactions and Islamic finance integration. The award recognizes not only deal execution but also the legal innovation required to structure complex dual-tranche financings that satisfy divergent regulatory and religious compliance frameworks across a single obligor relationship.
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