DIFC, July 08, 2009 -- Moody's Investors Service today downgraded the foreign and local currency issuer ratings of Jebel Ali Free Zone FZE ("Jafz") and the rating for Jafz Sukuk Limited AED 7.5 billion Trust Certificates due in 2012 to A2 from A1 and placed the ratings under review for further possible downgrade.

The downgrade was prompted by the close commercial relationship between Jafz and Dubai World ("DW"; not rated), its ultimate parent, which has impacted Jafz's baseline credit assessment given the growing financial challenges at Dubai World. In particular, Jafz shares its treasury services with DW. Jafz holds its surplus funds at DW level under shared treasury services and can call these funds on demand. The total inter-company receivables per 2008 year-end amounted to AED 2.1 billion (ca. USD 571 million), of which ca. AED 1.7 billion relate to DW. Contrary to assumptions made at the time of the rating assignment and given the interdependency of both entities, Moody's concluded that Jafz is not sufficiently ring-fenced and thus is more aligned to DW, which plays an important role in managing Jafz's own funds.

DW's credit profile is likely to have weakened given its significant property exposure to the Dubai market through its subsidiary Nakheel as well as upcoming refinancing of Nakheel's USD 3.5 billion sukuk, which matures in December 2009 and which is guaranteed by DW. Consequently, Moody's has downgraded the Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) of Jafz by one notch to reflect the interdependency of both entities in view of the weakened parent company.

Ratings have been placed under review for possible further downgrade as Moody's seeks to assess the underlying operating performance in the first half of 2009, future prospects and expectations in light of weak global macroeconomic conditions impacting the Dubai economy. The review will also focus on the relationship with DW and is expected to be concluded by the end of July.

The BCA of 11 is underpinned by recurring rental income, a solid track record of consistently high EBITDA margins and low customer concentration.

Ratings also take into account the flexibility management has to scale down non-discretionary capital expenditures. Accordingly, Moody's expects the company to be around free cash flow break-even levels in 2009 and 2010 as a reflection of its downscaled expansionary path. However, the BCA also reflects the high exposure to a single economy, high financial leverage and weak back-stop liquidity.

The principal methodology used in rating these entities was "The Application of Joint Default Analysis to Government Related Issuers", published in April 2005, which determines ratings on the basis of a company's baseline credit assessment, as well as credit enhancement for exceptional government support. Accordingly, ratings were assigned by evaluating factors we believe are relevant to the baseline credit assessment of the issuers, such as i) the business risk and competitive position of the companies versus others within its industry, ii) the capital structure and financial risk of the companies, iii) the projected performance of the companies over the near to intermediate term, and iv) management's track record and tolerance for risk. These attributes were compared against other issuers both within and outside of the companies' core industries and ratings are believed to be comparable to those of other issuers of similar credit risk. Other methodologies and factors that may have been considered in the process of rating the issuers can also be found at www.moodys.com in the Credit Policy & Methodologies directory.

The last rating action on Jafz and Jafz Sukuk Limited was on April 1, 2009, when Moody's changed the outlook to negative.

Jebel Ali Free Zone FZE (Jafz), based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is one of the world's largest free zones, and is indirectly owned by Dubai World, one of the strategic holding companies of the Government of Dubai.

-Ends- The Jebel Ali Free Zone is located adjacent to Dubai's main Jebel Ali Port (operated by DP World) and incorporates a 48 square kilometre commercial and industrial hub, which is home to over 6,000 companies from 110 countries, including warehouses, offices and other ready-built facilities. More than 25% of Dubai's GDP passes through the free zone each year and the companies based in the free zone employ one in seven people working in Dubai.

London David G. Staples Managing Director Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service Ltd. JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454 DIFC Martin Kohlhase Asst Vice President - Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Middle East Ltd. Telephone: +971-44-01-9536

© Press Release 2009 omar 1.1:zy