Saudi Arabia leads the world in domestic sukuk sales with 185% jump to $14bn  

Saudi government alone has sold more than 60 percent of global domestic sukuk sales. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 18 August 2022
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Saudi Arabia leads the world in domestic sukuk sales with 185% jump to $14bn  

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s domestic market has recorded $14.4 billion worth of sukuk sales this year, registering a growth of 185 percent over the last year, Bloomberg reported. 

Sukuk, which is also called an Islamic bond, is a debt product issued in accordance with Shariah or Islamic laws. 

This amount represents more than half of global domestic sukuk sales, and the Saudi government alone has sold more than 60 percent of it.

“There are a lot of projects going on in Saudi Arabia driven by their Vision 2030 to diversify their economy away from oil. These all need funding,” Doug Bitcon, the Dubai-based head of credit strategies at Rasmala Investment Bank, said. 

He added: “Local investors are familiar with the local companies and they can often raise liquidity at fine spreads.”


Closing Bell: Saudi benchmark index edged up to close at 10,549

Updated 01 January 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi benchmark index edged up to close at 10,549

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Thursday, gaining 58.39 points, or 0.56 percent, to close at 10,549.08.

Total trading turnover reached SR1.59 billion ($425 million), with 218 stocks advancing and 37 declining.

The parallel market, Nomu, added 222.72 points, or 0.96 percent, to finish at 23,519.01, as 43 stocks rose and 21 retreated. Meanwhile, the MSCI Tadawul Index increased by 6.11 points, or 0.44 percent, to close at 1,393.42.

Leading the day’s gains was Alkhaleej Training and Education Co., whose shares jumped 7.63 percent to SR20.45. Other strong performers included Consolidated Grunenfelder Saady Holding Co., up 6.60 percent to SR9.69, and Abdullah Saad Mohammed Abo Moati for Bookstores Co., which rose 6.48 percent to SR48.98.

On the downside, Naseej International Trading Co. recorded the largest decline, falling 2.44 percent to SR34.44, while National Gas and Industrialization Co. dropped 1.79 percent to SR93.10 and Nama Chemicals Co. slipped 1.32 percent to SR23.99.

Saudi Aramco Base Oil Co., or Luberef announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Aramco for a GIII+ production facility in Jazan.

The 18-month agreement, which may be renewed, is a key step in the Group III+ Project aimed at enhancing production capacity. The MoU is non-binding, and any future approvals, formal agreements, or financial impacts will be disclosed in line with regulatory guidelines. Luberef ended the session at SR96.10, down 0.26 percent.

Meanwhile, the Power and Water Utility Co. for Jubail and Yanbu, or Marafiq, reported receiving official notice of higher energy product prices used in production. The company estimated the financial impact for 2026 at 5.6 percent of total cost of sales, based on its most recent audited 2024 statements.

The effect is expected to appear in the first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year. Marafiq said it is working to mitigate the impact through improved production efficiency, enhanced plant reliability, optimized asset utilization, and cost reductions. The stock closed at SR36.80, up 1.03 percent.