JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s National Debt Management Center has completed its June issuance under the government’s riyal-denominated sukuk program, raising SR2.355 billion ($628 million).
The figure marks a decline of 42 percent from May’s SR4.08 billion, which was the highest monthly total recorded this year. The drop reflects typical fluctuations in the government’s monthly funding activity.
The June offering was divided into five tranches. The first amounted to SR25 million and will mature in 2027. The second, totaling SR1.175 billion, will mature in 2029. The third tranche stood at SR500 million and is set to mature in 2032. The fourth was SR5 million, maturing in 2036, while the fifth and final tranche reached SR650 million, due in 2039.
Sukuk, which are structured to comply with Islamic finance principles, offer investors returns generated from tangible assets or projects, rather than traditional interest payments. These instruments continue to attract strong demand from investors seeking stable, Shariah-compliant returns.
Despite the month-on-month decline, the latest issuance underscores Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its funding base and develop the domestic debt market.
The NDMC has maintained a steady pace of monthly issuances this year, including SR3.72 billion in January, SR3.07 billion in February, SR2.64 billion in March, and SR4.08 billion in May.
Saudi Arabia continues to lead the Gulf Cooperation Council in sukuk and bond activity. In the first quarter of 2025, the Kingdom accounted for more than 60 percent of all primary debt issuances in the region, raising $31.01 billion from 41 offerings, according to the Kuwait Financial Center, known as Markaz.
In a broader outlook, S&P Global has highlighted Saudi Arabia’s expanding non-oil economy and strong sukuk activity as key drivers for growth in global Islamic finance.
The agency forecasts total sukuk issuance could reach between $190 billion and $200 billion in 2025, with up to $80 billion in foreign-currency issuances, assuming stable market conditions.
Looking ahead, Kamco Invest projects that Saudi Arabia will lead the GCC in bond maturities over the next five years. Between 2025 and 2029, about $168 billion in Saudi bonds are expected to mature, underscoring the Kingdom’s prominent role in the region’s debt landscape.
