Saudi Arabia & UAE Lead MENA in Sustainable Bond Issuance
Saudi Arabia led the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in sustainable debt issuance during the first half of 2025, accounting for 66% of total activity, according to Bloomberg's Capital Markets League Tables.
Total sustainable bond and sukuk (Islamic bonds) issuance from the Kingdom reached USD 6.25 billion, marking a 25% year-on-year increase. The Saudi government issued USD 1.58 billion, while Al Rajhi Bank issued two sustainable sukuks totalling USD 1.7 billion. Other major contributions came from Saudi Electricity Company (USD 1.25 billion), Alinma Bank (USD 500 million), and Saudi Awwal Bank, which issued an Additional Tier 1 (AT1) sukuk worth USD 650 million.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) followed, contributing 34% of the region's sustainable debt activity with USD 3.22 billion. Key UAE issuance included USD 700 million from the National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) and USD 500 million from real estate developer Omniyat.
Islamic finance instruments dominated the regional market, with total sustainable sukuk issuances reaching USD 6.8 billion, a 17% year-on-year increase. AT1 instruments - which help banks meet capital requirements under the Basel III international regulatory framework - reached USD 3.15 billion, the highest first-half figure recorded in the past five years. The Basel III framework will begin phased implementation in the region from 2026.
Despite strong performances from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, overall sustainable bond issuance in MENA declined by 4.4% year-on-year, totalling USD 9.47 billion, compared to USD 9.91 billion during the same period in 2024. The drop was largely due to reduced activity in Egypt and Qatar and the impact of higher global interest rates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Saudi announces $5 billion in Syria investments - Region
A Saudi delegation visiting Damascus on Wednesday inked investment and partnership deals valued at $5 billion to help rebuild war-battered Syria, the oil-rich Gulf kingdom announced. Saudi Arabia has been a major backer of the new Syrian government, which seized power after Islamist-led rebels toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December following 14 years of civil war. The delegation of some 150 investors and representatives of the Saudi public and private sectors, led by Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih, attended a forum in Damascus. "The announced investments, valued at 19 billion Saudi riyals (about $5 billion), span vital and strategic sectors, including real estate, infrastructure, communications and IT, transportation and logistics, industry, tourism, energy, trade," and more, a statement from the investment ministry said. On Tuesday, the ministry had said the Damascus forum aimed to "explore cooperation opportunities and sign agreements that enhance sustainable development and serve the interests of the two brotherly peoples". Earlier this month, President Donald Trump formalised the dismantling of US sanctions on Syria, hoping to reintegrate the country into the global economy. He had already lifted most of the measures in May, responding to appeals from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The US president met Syria's interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, during a visit to Saudi Arabia the same month. Sharaa, a former jihadist, had also paid a visit to Riyadh in February in his first trip abroad since Assad's ouster. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia and Qatar pledged to settle Syria's debt to the World Bank, totalling about $15 million. Despite vows to unify the country, the new government in Damascus has struggled to maintain order, with deadly clashes involving minority groups raising questions about Syria's stability. Bloody violence in Sweida province earlier this month started with clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes, but soon escalated, with Israel later intervening with air strikes targeting government installations. More than 1,300 people, mostly Druze, were estimated to have been killed during the fighting, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
2 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Remittances from Egyptians Abroad Surge 70% to $32.8 Billion
Taarek Refaat Press Statement During the period July/May of FY 2024/25, remittances from Egyptians working abroad recorded a significant leap. The remittances rose by 69.6%, reaching about $32.8 billion (compared to around $19.4 billion during the same period a year earlier). Likewise, remittances increased during the period January/May 2025 by 59% YoY to record around USD 15.8 billion (compared to about $9.9 billion). On a monthly basis, remittances in May 2025 rose by 24.2% YoY to register about $3.4 billion, representing the highest level of inflows ever recorded in May (compared to around $2.7 billion). read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Mid East Info
3 hours ago
- Mid East Info
Wio Invest surpasses USD 1 billion in Assets Under Administration - Middle East Business News and Information
More than USD 4 billion in order volume year-to-date as digitally native investors embrace accessible, seamless trading • From tech stocks to index funds, customers are embracing AI-powered tools and long-term investing habits. Abu Dhabi, UAE –July 2025 – Wio Invest – a leading UAE investment platform owned by ADQ – has reached a major milestone, surpassing USD 1 billion in Assets Under Administration (AUA) in under two years of operations. This achievement positions it among the fastest-growing digital investment platforms globally, on par with leading neobrokers at similar stages in their journey. Wio Invest has evolved to meet the changing needs of a new generation of investors. Starting with capabilities like access to US markets, the platform has expanded to now include UAE markets, virtual assets, and wealth management portfolios – consistently adapting to customer demand and quickly establishing itself as a safe, local platform for building long-term wealth. 'This latest milestone reflects our commitment to reimagining everyday investing, and we've worked hard to build a platform that makes it simpler, smarter, and more accessible for everyone,' said Gaurav Ganwani, Deputy General Manager at Wio Securities LLC. 'We are passionate about empowering individuals to build long-term wealth through intuitive investment solutions, with a core focus on instant access. Through Wio Invest's integration with Wio Personal, users can open an account in minutes, invest directly from the app, and benefit from the instant settlement of sell orders. The fact that so many customers stay engaged and continue to invest with us speaks volumes – and we're continuously refining the journey to make it as seamless as possible.' Wio Invest has seen more than USD 4 billion in order volume year-to-date, driven by a new wave of investors who are more digitally native, financially curious, and focused on building their futures. Among the most popular investment themes, users have shown strong interest in US tech stocks such as NVIDIA and Tesla, while in the crypto space, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP remain favourites, as well as companies such as MicroStrategy (MSTR) that are heavily invested in the crypto space. The platform has also seen solid growth in its recurring orders feature, with index funds emerging as a top choice, reflecting a growing appetite for consistent, long-term investing. The platform's latest capability is Wio Wealth managed portfolios, designed to support more passive investors and help them achieve more of their financial goals. With zero fees until 31 December 2025 and the flexibility to withdraw at any time without penalties, Wio Wealth makes investing even simpler and more accessible. With strong engagement, growing demand, and an expanding suite of features, Wio Invest is well positioned to shape the future of investing in the region. The platform remains focused on delivering intuitive, customer-first tools that empower individuals to invest with confidence and build long-term financial wellbeing.
