Nasdaq Dubai records the strongest annual performance in its history, and the value of outstanding sukuks exceeds $100 billion in 2025
Dubai, February 16 / WAM / Nasdaq Dubai has succeeded in attracting a record number of Sukuk listings during the year 2025, supported by continued issuance activity from regional and international bodies, in addition to the continuing global demand for debt instruments that are compatible with the provisions of Islamic Sharia.
The total value of existing debt instruments listed on both the Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai amounted to about 150.9 billion US dollars by the end of 2025, of which Nasdaq Dubai acquired $146.1 billion.
The Sukuk market on Nasdaq Dubai has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, as the total value of outstanding Sukuks has increased nearly eight-fold since 2013, from $12.6 billion to more than $100 billion.
Since its establishment, Nasdaq Dubai has hosted cumulative issuances of bonds and sukuks worth more than $245 billion, including $177 billion of sukuks.
This growth is consistent with the UAE’s national strategy for Islamic finance and the halal industry, which aims to raise Islamic banking assets to 2.56 trillion dirhams, and increase sukuk listings to more than 660 billion dirhams locally and 395 billion dirhams internationally by 2031.
During 2025, Nasdaq Dubai witnessed new listings of debt instruments worth $30.6 billion across 60 issues, a record level that reflects the strength and diversity of listing activity.
The first listings of Ajman Bank, Omniyat, Mashreq Bank, China Development Bank and New Development Bank, in addition to repeated issuances within existing issuance programmes, contributed to enhancing the attractiveness of the stock exchange to sovereign entities, international multilateral institutions, financial institutions and companies.
Sovereign issuers and government-related entities maintained their strong presence in the market during the year, as issuances by the Republic of Indonesia, the government of the UAE, and the governments of Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah contributed to strengthening Dubai’s position as a pivotal center for global capital flows.
Companies and financial institutions also listed a variety of instruments, including traditional bonds, sukuk, additional Tier 1 capital instruments, and sustainability-related instruments, highlighting the flexibility and diversity of the fixed income instruments market on Nasdaq Dubai.
During the year 2025, Nasdaq Dubai strengthened its position as a leading destination in the region in the field of sustainable finance, and by the end of the year, the total value of debt instruments related to sustainability and environmental, social and corporate governance standards on the stock exchange reached $30.08 billion through 41 issuances, which included: $18.38 billion of green bonds across 27 issuances, $9.05 billion of sustainability bonds across 9 issues, and $2.55 billion of sustainability-related bonds. Through 4 issues, and $100 million of blue bonds through one issue.
International participation has remained one of the most important pillars of growth for Nasdaq Dubai over the years, as the exchange has succeeded in attracting prominent listings of debt instruments from many institutions from various parts of the world and the Middle East, which reflects continued international confidence in its market infrastructure.
Sovereign entities, including the governments of Indonesia, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, along with supra-sovereign entities including the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, and the New Development Bank, in addition to policy banks such as the China Development Bank, preferred to list their issues on the Nasdaq Dubai Stock Exchange, confirming its role as a reliable international gateway for cross-border debt and sukuk issuances.
Abdul Wahed Al Fahim, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nasdaq Dubai, said that the year 2025 represented a turning point in Nasdaq Dubai’s journey, as the value of the listed sukuk exceeded 100 billion US dollars, and the stock exchange achieved record levels of debt instrument issuances, which reflects the strong confidence that issuers and investors around the world have in Nasdaq Dubai, and these achievements confirm Dubai’s position as a reliable and globally interconnected center for Islamic finance, fixed income markets and sustainable investment.
In turn, Hamed Ali, CEO of the Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai, said that exceeding the $100 billion barrier of existing sukuk listings is a major achievement in 2025, and reflects the strongest annual performance in the history of Nasdaq Dubai, emphasizing the strong and sustainable confidence that international and local issuers have in the stock exchange.
He added, “During the year, Nasdaq Dubai witnessed new listings of debt instruments worth US$30.6 billion across 60 issuances, confirming its position as a leading international platform for listing sukuks and fixed income instruments. Moving forward, our focus will remain directed towards strengthening international connectivity, expanding the scope of multi-currency instruments linked to sustainability, and attracting new issuers from emerging and frontier markets, in a way that supports the sustainable growth of capital markets.”
Building on a record year full of historic achievements in 2025, Nasdaq Dubai enters 2026 with continued activity in Sukuk listings, debt instruments linked to environmental, social and corporate governance standards (ESG), and multi-currency issuances.
The exchange remains committed to supporting issuers and investors through a diverse range of fixed income instruments, contributing to Dubai’s capital markets ecosystem and strengthening the city’s position as a leading global center for fixed income and Islamic finance.
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