Nasdaq Dubai fixed income listings in 2026 saw strong momentum in the first quarter, with the exchange recording over $8 billion raised across 18 new listings, reinforcing its position as a leading global hub for debt capital markets.
The latest activity takes the total value of outstanding listings on the exchange to $149 billion, including $105 billion in Sukuk and $44 billion in conventional bonds, highlighting Dubai’s continued dominance in Islamic finance.
The quarter reflected steady issuer participation and resilient investor demand, with UAE-based issuers accounting for 67 percent of total listings and international issuers contributing the remaining 33 percent.
Issuance activity spanned a wide range of sectors and structures, underscoring the platform’s depth. Key listings included sovereign issuances from the UAE Federal Government, alongside supranational borrowers such as the New Development Bank and the Arab Energy Fund.
A notable highlight was the New Development Bank’s $2 billion debut issuance, signaling continued international confidence in Nasdaq Dubai as a listing venue.
Financial institutions remained active, with banks such as Emirates NBD issuing across innovative formats, including Green, Blue, and digitally native instruments. Mashreq also tapped the market through Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital instruments, reflecting demand for more sophisticated funding structures.
Corporate issuers across key sectors also accessed capital markets, including aviation and real estate players such as Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Binghatti, and OMNIYAT.
Sustainable finance continued to gain traction during the quarter, with green and blue bond issuances highlighting the growing integration of ESG-linked funding and ocean-related financing initiatives.
At the same time, Nasdaq Dubai advanced its digital infrastructure, marked by the debut of a digitally native note by Emirates NBD, pointing to increasing innovation in debt issuance processes.
“Dubai’s capital markets continue to demonstrate resilience and maturity, supported by a well-established ecosystem and growing international participation,” said Abdul Wahed Al Fahim, Chairman of Nasdaq Dubai.
Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market, added, “The first quarter of 2026 saw sustained participation from a diverse range of issuers, underscoring the depth and reliability of our debt capital markets.”
The continued issuance under the UAE’s Treasury Sukuk and bond programs also supported the development of a dirham-denominated yield curve, a key step in strengthening domestic capital markets.
The performance builds on strong activity in 2025, and signals sustained demand for both conventional and Islamic instruments as issuers increasingly look to Dubai to access regional and global liquidity.
With a diversified issuer base, growing focus on sustainable finance, and advancements in digital issuance, Nasdaq Dubai is positioning itself as a central platform for future capital formation in the region and beyond.
–Input WAM
