Abu Dhabi Builder Holds Talks to Revamp $545 Million in Debt

(Bloomberg) -- Abu Dhabi-based construction firm Al Fara’a Group is in talks with banks to restructure about 2 billion dirhams ($545 million) in liabilities, according to people familiar with the matter.

A large chunk of this is held by local lenders including Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC and First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. The group has been facing difficulties for a number of years and has cut thousands of jobs, delayed payments to employees and vendors, some of the people said.

Established in 1980, privately-held Al Fara’a once employed 18,000 people. It is active in oil and gas, steel, interiors and concrete, and has worked on several mega-projects across the Middle East, according to its website.

The group’s troubles highlight how construction firms in the Gulf are struggling as lower oil prices force governments to cut spending. Saudi Binladin Group is seeking to restructure about $15 billion in debt, while Drake & Scull International PJSC last year fired its chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief legal officer as the Dubai-based contracting and engineering firm posted a record loss.

Al Fara’a’s Unibeton subsidiary has supplied concrete to projects including Dubai’s Expo 2020 and Riyadh Metro, according to its website.

Representatives of Al Fara’a didn’t respond to requests for comment. First Abu Dhabi Bank declined to comment. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank didn’t respond to a request for comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nicolas Parasie in Dubai at nparasie1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stefania Bianchi at sbianchi10@bloomberg.net, Shaji Mathew

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