RIYADH: Saudi Arabia dominated the Gulf Cooperation Council region’s primary debt market in the third quarter of 2025, raising $20.32 billion through 36 issuances, representing a 62.7 percent year-on-year increase in value, according to a new analysis.
In its latest report, Kuwait Financial Center, also known as Markaz, said that primary issuances of bonds and sukuk across the GCC totaled $38.74 billion through 137 issuances during the third quarter, marking a 32.4 percent increase from the same period in 2024, when issuances reached $29.29 billion.
The debt market in the region — particularly in Saudi Arabia — has expanded significantly in recent years, driven by economic diversification efforts that have strengthened investor demand for fixed-income instruments.
The financial sector led all GCC bond and sukuk issuances in the third quarter, with a total value of $21.53 billion, followed by government issuances at $11.1 billion. (Spplied)
“As for issuance preferences, the third quarter of 2025 saw an increased appetite for sukuk issuances in the GCC, representing 52.6 percent of total issuances for the year. This is a change in issuance preferences from the third quarter of 2024, where more conventional bonds were issued,” said Markaz.
According to the report, UAE-based issuers raised $5.82 billion through 57 offerings in the third quarter, marking a 47.3 percent decline compared with the same period in 2024. Qatar ranked third in terms of issuance value, with $5.69 billion raised through 29 issuances, followed by Kuwait, where issuers raised $3.42 billion through eight issuances, reflecting a 118.4 percent increase year on year.
FASTFACTS
• Primary issuances of bonds and sukuk across the GCC totaled $38.74 billion through 137 issuances during the third quarter, marking a 32.4 percent increase from the same period in 2024, when issuances reached $29.29 billion.
• Total GCC corporate primary issuances grew 4 percent in the third quarter to $26.59 billion. Conventional issuances decreased 18.6 percent to $18.37 billion, while sukuk issuances rose sharply — up 202.7 percent during the quarter — reaching a total value of $20.37 billion for the year to date.
Issuances in Bahrain surged 539 percent from a year earlier to $2.55 billion across four issuances, while Omani entities recorded the lowest total, raising $0.94 billion through three issuances.
Markaz added that total GCC corporate primary issuances grew 4 percent in the third quarter to $26.59 billion. Conventional issuances decreased 18.6 percent to $18.37 billion, while sukuk issuances rose sharply — up 202.7 percent during the quarter — reaching a total value of $20.37 billion for the year to date.
The financial sector led all GCC bond and sukuk issuances in the third quarter, with a total value of $21.53 billion, followed by government issuances at $11.1 billion, the report said.
