Two of the largest law firms in the Middle East have advised on the acquisition of Tour Dubai by Big Bus Tours.
Al Tamimi & Company advised Anup Surendran, the founder and managing director of Tour Dubai, while Clyde & Co acted as lead counsel for Big Bus Tours.
Big Bus Tours is one of the world’s largest operators of open-top sightseeing experiences with a presence in 26 cities across four continents.
Tour Dubai will join Tower Tours, a sightseeing excursion operator in San Francisco and Singapore, as part of the Big Bus Tours family of operations.
Tour Dubai has been around since 1989 and is one of the emirate’s largest tour operators. It offers experiences from cruises to desert safaris, in a boost to the Big Bus portfolio.
The Al Tamimi team was led by corporate partner Richard Catling, with assistance from Provizia Capital, a boutique corporate advisory firm.
Clyde & Co’s cross-practice team was led by partner and Middle East corporate head Naji Hawayek, with support from partners Sara Khoja (employment); Alexis Waller (real estate); and Alex Lester (dispute resolution).
“We are excited to welcome Tour Dubai to the Big Bus Tours Group,” said St. John Cooper, executive vice president of Middle East and Asia Pacific at Big Bus Tours. “Anup and his team have created a business with vast experience and outstanding offerings that align perfectly with our mission to be the top activity in every world-famous city.”
The acquisition comes at a time where Dubai’s tourism sector continues to grow, with a rising demand for activities in the UAE.
