Nasdaq Dubai has witnessed the official listing of the UAE’s first government treasury sukuk program dedicated to individual investors, marking a new step in strengthening the presence of retail investors in local capital markets and giving them access to secure and regulated government-backed financial instruments.

The listing came after the completion of the first sovereign sukuk issuance specifically designed for individuals and the start of its trading on the secondary market. To mark the occasion, Minister of State for Financial Affairs Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini rang the market-opening bell at Nasdaq Dubai.

The first offering recorded strong demand from investors, with subscription requests reaching AED 445 million, nearly nine times the targeted issuance size of AED 50 million. This high level of demand prompted the Ministry of Finance to double the issuance size to AED 100 million.

Al Hussaini said the UAE continues to develop a flexible and inclusive economic model built on an advanced financial and legislative framework that is aligned with the highest international standards. He noted that the listing of the first government treasury sukuk program for individuals reflects the Ministry of Finance’s strategic vision to support and enhance the efficiency of local capital markets.

He added that the program contributes to diversifying sovereign financing sources and strengthening the sustainability of financial resources, while also providing secure financial instruments that support financial stability in the country. He also said that the strong response to the first issuance exceeded expectations and achieved notable coverage levels, reflecting the growing financial and investment awareness among members of the community.

For his part, Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, said the listing of the first government treasury sukuk issuance for individuals on Nasdaq Dubai represents an important step toward supporting a sustainable economy, giving individuals the opportunity to participate in the UAE’s ongoing journey of development and prosperity.

He added that the launch of the program is in line with the objectives of the UAE’s Year of the Family 2026, by offering financial solutions that help support family financial stability and encourage a sound financial planning culture among members of society.

Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market, said the listing of the first government treasury sukuk program for individuals in the UAE is an important milestone in the debt instruments market. He explained that the significance of the listing lies in two main factors: first, that the issuance is backed by the Government of the UAE, and second, that it is the first of its kind in the country and the region to allow subscriptions with a minimum amount of AED 1,000.

He pointed out that this minimum threshold gives individual investors the opportunity to participate alongside major investors, especially as many sukuk issuances globally require much higher subscription amounts, which in some cases can reach around USD 200,000.

Ali explained that lowering the minimum subscription amount helps broaden the investor base and enables residents in the UAE to access investment products that were previously more commonly available to institutions and high-net-worth investors.

Nasdaq Dubai currently hosts 175 debt instrument listings, including bonds and sukuk. These include 117 sukuk listings with a total value of USD 98.6 billion, while the total value of debt instrument listings stands at around USD 141 billion.

During the first half of this year, Nasdaq Dubai attracted 33 new listings worth USD 13.8 billion, a stronger performance compared with the same period last year, reflecting continued activity in the bonds and sukuk market.

Ali said there are no signs of a slowdown in the issuance or listing of debt instruments, expecting the momentum to continue in the coming period, supported by ongoing demand from issuers and investors for this type of financial instrument.

He also noted that around 55% of Nasdaq Dubai’s listings come from outside the UAE, including governments and global financial institutions. These include issuers from Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, the Maldives, and Turkey, in addition to more than 11 listings from Chinese issuers and several other international issuers.

In terms of participation, the retail sukuk program succeeded in attracting a broad and diverse investor base. Small investors who subscribed with amounts not exceeding AED 10,000 formed the largest share of total subscribers, accounting for 76%, while UAE nationals represented 72% of participants.

The data also showed notable participation from young investors under the age of 25 and from women, who together made up 45% of total subscribers. This reflects the program’s role in promoting financial inclusion and encouraging wider segments of society to enter the world of regulated investment.

The listing of the UAE’s first government treasury sukuk for individuals further strengthens the country’s position as an advanced financial hub. It also represents a practical step toward providing secure investment options that are accessible to a wider segment of individuals, supporting financial stability and keeping pace with the development of local capital markets.