Saudi-listed sukuk and bonds rise to $185.5bn in Q3

Listed sukuk and bonds represented 18.4 percent of Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product, slightly higher than 18.2 percent in the previous quarter. Shutterstock
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Updated 27 October 2025
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Saudi-listed sukuk and bonds rise to $185.5bn in Q3

RIYADH: The total value of Saudi-listed sukuk and bonds increased to SR695.8 billion ($185.5 billion) at the end of the third quarter of 2025, up 3 percent quarter on quarter.  

Listed sukuk and bonds represented 18.4 percent of Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product, slightly higher than 18.2 percent in the previous quarter, Argaam reported, citing data from Tadawul’s quarterly debt market report.  

Government sukuk and bonds continued to dominate the market, accounting for 97.6 percent of total listed debt at the end of the quarter, reaching SR679.1 billion. Corporate sukuk and bonds made up the remaining 2.4 percent, or SR16.7 billion.  

The growth in listed sukuk and bonds also aligns with the government’s broader debt management strategy.  

The National Debt Management Center announced its 2025 annual borrowing plan with projected funding needs of SR139 billion, covering both the anticipated budget deficit and upcoming debt maturities.   

As part of this plan, the NDMC completed a domestic sukuk issuance in August valued at SR5.31 billion, distributed across four tranches. These issuances are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the domestic debt market and diversify the government’s financing sources in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.  

Saudi investors held majority of listed debt instruments, owning SR677.4 billion, or 97.4 percent of the total.   

Foreign investors accounted for SR15 billion, representing 2.2 percent, while investors from Gulf Cooperation Council countries held SR3.4 billion, or 0.5 percent.  

Despite the increase in total market value, trading activity slowed significantly. The traded value dropped 89 percent quarter on quarter to SR1.78 billion from SR16 billion in the previous quarter.  

The number of executed trades also decreased to 10,414 in the third quarter, compared with 12,251 in the second quarter of 2025.  

The number of listed sukuk and bond issuances stood at 60, down slightly from 61 in the previous quarter.  

According to the data, the size of Saudi Arabia’s listed sukuk and bond market has nearly doubled over the past five years, rising from SR358 billion in the first quarter of 2020 to SR695.8 billion in the third quarter of 2025.   


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.