Saudi Arabia leads GCC fixed income issuances in Q1: Markaz report

 According to a recent report by the Kuwait Financial Center (Markaz), Saudi Arabia led the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in fixed income issuances during the first quarter of 2025. The Kingdom raised $31.01 billion through 41 bond and sukuk offerings, accounting for 60.2% of the total GCC issuances, which amounted to $51.51 billion—a 7.1% decrease from the same period last year. ​A

Key Highlights:

• Issuer Preferences: Conventional bonds dominated the market, representing 65.5% of total issuances in Q1 2025. ​Regional Breakdown:

• • UAE: Raised $10.17 billion through 29 issuances, marking a 61.6% increase from the previous year.

  • Qatar: Issued $7.14 billion through 38 offerings.

  • Bahrain: Raised $1.53 billion, a 44.5% decline year-on-year.

  • Kuwait: Issued $1.41 billion, a 40.9% increase from the previous year.

  • Oman: Issued $260 million, the lowest in the region. ​Sector Breakdown:

• • Financial Sector: Led with $22 billion raised through 100 issuances (42.8% of the total).

  • Government Sector: Raised $19.4 billion from 12 issuances (37.6%).

  • Real Estate Sector: Raised $4.3 billion from five transactions. ​

Despite a decline in overall GCC issuances, Saudi Arabia’s dominance in the fixed income market underscores its significant role in the region’s financial landscape.

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