DIB celebrates listing of $1 billion Sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

21/02/2018 07:16 AST

The Dubai Islamic Bank, DIB, rang the market-opening bell today to celebrate the listing of a $1 billion Sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai.

The Sukuk is the first benchmark dollar-denominated Sukuk from a GCC issuer in 2018 and provides significant support for the domestic and international growth strategy of DIB.

It is DIB's sixth Sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai, making the bank the largest UAE debt issuer by value on the exchange with a total of US$5.25 billion. The latest Sukuk, carrying a profit rate of 3.625% with a five-year tenor, attracted investors from the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America, including banks, sovereign wealth funds and fund managers. The collaboration between Nasdaq Dubai and DIB underlines Dubai's growth as the global capital of the Islamic economy.

Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of DIB, said, "2018 has once again seen DIB open the capital markets for the region with another successful Sukuk issuance. The strong demand for the credit continues to grow across a diverse global investor base as we pursue our expansionary agenda, focused on protecting the franchise we have created and making use of our ever-strengthening balance sheet to pursue new opportunities. The master plan developed a decade ago has so far yielded solid results in line with our targeted objectives and our aim today is ensure that this consistency of delivery continues in the years to come. Nasdaq Dubai provides us with high visibility in the marketplace as well as close links to investors in the region and internationally."

Abdul Wahed Al Fahim, Chairman of Nasdaq Dubai, said, "DIB's dynamic use of the Islamic capital markets and its prominent role in the UAE's banking sector are a mainstay of Sharia'a-compliant financial activity in Dubai. The close collaboration between DIB and Nasdaq Dubai provides significant support for Dubai's growth as the global capital of the Islamic economy, under the initiative launched by the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum." The total value of all Sukuk listed on Dubai's exchanges has now reached US$53.47 billion, the largest amount of any listing centre in the world.

The Gulf Today