The UAE Ministry of Finance announced on Friday the official listing and start of secondary market trading for the second issuance under the government Treasury Sukuk program for individual investors in the UAE.
The sukuk, which have a five-year maturity, began trading on Nasdaq Dubai after the successful completion of the subscription, allocation, and settlement processes.
The start of trading marks a new stage for the program, giving individual investors greater flexibility through access to the secondary market.
The second issuance builds on the success of the first offering and forms part of the UAE’s efforts to broaden investment participation in the national economy while providing safe, government-backed savings options that encourage long-term financial planning.
UAE Treasury Sukuk Provide a Long-Term Savings Option
The launch of secondary market trading for the second issuance represents another step in expanding the range of investment products available to individuals, following the strong performance of the first government Treasury Sukuk issuance.
With the sukuk now trading on Nasdaq Dubai’s secondary market, investors have greater flexibility in managing their holdings. They can increase their investments by purchasing additional sukuk or sell their holdings through the exchange before maturity.
This flexibility gives individuals more room to manage their investment portfolios according to their financial needs and plans, while gaining access to a sovereign investment instrument denominated in UAE dirhams.
Strong Demand for the Second Issuance
Results from the second offering showed strong interest from different categories of investors, with total subscription requests reaching approximately AED 285 million.
Demand covered the targeted issuance size of AED 50 million by around 5.7 times, reflecting the high level of interest in the government Treasury Sukuk offered to individual investors.
The results also underline the role of the program in expanding savings and investment opportunities and allowing individuals to participate more directly in national sovereign investment initiatives.
UAE Nationals Account for 69% of Applications
The second offering succeeded in broadening participation and supporting financial inclusion, with investors subscribing for AED 10,000 or less accounting for 75% of total subscription applications.
UAE nationals represented 69% of all applications, while the offering also attracted international interest from investors representing 110 nationalities.
Women contributed 17% of the total invested capital, while investors under the age of 25 also recorded strong participation, reflecting the program’s reach across different segments of society.
Another notable indicator was that nearly half of the individual participants in the second issuance were returning investors who had also taken part in the first issuance.
Supporting a Culture of Saving and Financial Inclusion
Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, said that the start of trading for the second issuance of government Treasury Sukuk for individuals on Nasdaq Dubai represents a new strategic milestone in the development of local capital markets denominated in UAE dirhams, and confirms the firm commitment to providing sovereign investment instruments that combine security with attractive returns.
He stressed that the continued demand from individual investors reflects their deep confidence in the country’s financial infrastructure and demonstrates the ministry’s efforts to broaden direct participation by all segments of society in national sovereign initiatives.
He added that making these sukuk available for trading on the secondary market does not only provide investors with greater flexibility in managing their assets, but also represents a fundamental step toward strengthening financial inclusion and developing a culture of saving among families and individuals over the long term.
He continued: “We are moving forward with our partners across the financial ecosystem to enhance the efficiency of government debt instruments in a way that serves national objectives.”
The development reflects the UAE’s continued focus on building a more diverse financial ecosystem while expanding access to sovereign investment instruments and encouraging long-term saving and investment.
Nasdaq Dubai: Growing Interest in Sharia-Compliant Instruments
Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market, welcomed the second issuance of government Treasury Sukuk for individuals on Nasdaq Dubai, noting that the successful listing and start of trading reflect growing demand among individual investors for high-quality, Sharia-compliant instruments.
He added that, by providing advanced trading infrastructure and dedicated market-making services, Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market continue to strengthen liquidity, expand market access, and enable investors to trade flexibly in the secondary market, whether to purchase additional sukuk or exit their positions as their financial needs evolve.
The availability of the sukuk on the secondary market gives investors additional flexibility in managing their investments in line with their financial objectives, supported by an advanced market infrastructure.
Cooperation Between the Ministry of Finance, Markets, and Banks
The listing of the second issuance reflects effective coordination and cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and the UAE’s financial markets, represented by Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market, with strong support from the network of approved receiving banks participating in the issuance.
Trading began following the subscription period, which ran from September 23 to September 28, 2026, before the completion of allocation and settlement procedures.
The successful completion of these stages highlights the coordination among the entities involved in the program and supports the continued development of the government debt market while expanding the investment products available to individuals.
Minimum Investment Starts at AED 1,000
The sukuk offer an investment option with a five-year maturity and semiannual profit distributions, while the minimum investment amount is set at AED 1,000.
The relatively accessible minimum allows a wider group of individual investors to participate in the program and gain access to sovereign investment instruments, supporting efforts to promote a culture of saving and broaden the investor base.
With trading now underway, the sukuk are directly available to individuals and traders through approved Nasdaq Dubai brokers, supported by market makers and liquidity providers to facilitate flexible buying and selling.
What Does the Start of Treasury Sukuk Trading Mean for Individuals?
The launch of secondary market trading gives sukuk holders greater flexibility in managing their investments throughout the five-year term.
In addition to holding the sukuk and receiving semiannual profit distributions, investors can now purchase additional sukuk through the market or sell their holdings before maturity according to their financial needs.
This adds an important element of flexibility to the government Treasury Sukuk program for individuals, combining access to a sovereign investment instrument with the ability to trade in the secondary market and a minimum investment starting from AED 1,000.
