Nasdaq Dubai Lists Emirates NBD's $500 Million Sustainability-Linked Loan Financing Bond

Nasdaq Dubai has listed Emirates NBD Bank PJSC's $500 million Sustainability-Linked Loan Financing Bond (SLLB). This bond is the first of its kind under the new International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and Loan Market Association (LMA) framework. Rated A2/A+ by Moody’s and Fitch, it offers a fixed coupon rate of 5.141% and will mature in 2029.

The bond is part of Emirates NBD's $20 billion Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) Programme. It highlights the bank's dedication to sustainability and innovation within financial markets. The dual listing on Nasdaq Dubai and Euronext Dublin shows strong interest from both regional and international investors, reinforcing Dubai's status as a global hub for sustainable debt capital markets.

Emirates NBD’s latest issuance increases its total bond listings on Nasdaq Dubai to $5.77 billion, across nine listings. This move underscores the bank's commitment to providing ESG-compliant financial instruments, meeting the evolving needs of capital markets, investors, and customers.

Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Emirates NBD Group, expressed pride in listing this pioneering bond on Nasdaq Dubai. He stated: "We are proud to list the world’s first Sustainability-Linked Loan Financing Bond that is issued under the new ICMA/LMA framework, on Nasdaq Dubai. This not only marks an important milestone in our sustainability journey as a Bank but also serves as a testament to our commitment to supporting the evolving needs of capital markets, investors and our customers for ESG-compliant financial instruments."

Nasdaq Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a leading platform for fixed-income and ESG-related listings. The exchange has a total value of $139 billion in listed fixed-income securities, with $30.4 billion focused on ESG issuances. This enhances Dubai’s reputation as a gateway for diverse investment opportunities.

Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM), welcomed Emirates NBD’s bond listing. He remarked: "We welcome Emirates NBD’s Sustainability-Linked Loan Financing Bond to Nasdaq Dubai. The exchange continues to play a key role in providing issuers with access to capital to support their sustainable initiatives. This milestone issuance marks an important step in our shared mission to expand the availability of ESG financing solutions in the region."

Celebrating the Milestone

The market opening bell at Nasdaq Dubai was rung by Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim alongside Hamed Ali to celebrate this significant listing. This event highlighted the collaboration between Emirates NBD and Nasdaq Dubai in promoting sustainable finance solutions.

The funds raised from this bond will be used for financing or refinancing Emirates NBD's portfolio of Sustainability-Linked Loan assets according to its SLLB Framework. This issuance reflects growing demand for ESG-focused financial products in both regional and global markets.

With inputs from WAM