The UAE has launched its first Sovereign Retail T-Sukuk programme, offering individual investors direct access to government-backed securities for the first time as part of efforts to broaden participation in the country’s financial markets.
The Ministry of Finance announced that subscriptions for the two-year sukuk opened on June 24 and will remain available until June 30. The issuance, valued at 50 million dirhams ($13.6 million), offers an annual profit rate of 4.3 percent, with returns distributed every six months.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Central Bank of the UAE and is designed to provide citizens and residents with a simplified route into sovereign investments through fully digital subscription channels.
Investors can participate with a minimum subscription of 1,000 dirhams through approved platforms, including services operated by the Dubai Financial Market and several participating banks.
Mohamed bin Hadi Al-Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, said the initiative represents an important step in strengthening the UAE’s sovereign investment framework while making government investment products more accessible to individual investors.
Unlike previous schemes that offered fractional ownership of existing securities, the new programme allows investors to subscribe directly to newly issued sovereign sukuk at face value.
The Ministry of Finance said allocations and issuance are scheduled for July 1, while the sukuk will begin trading on Nasdaq Dubai from July 2. Investors will also be able to buy and sell their holdings on the secondary market through licensed trading members.
Officials said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to encourage long-term saving and investment while expanding participation in the UAE’s financial ecosystem through Shariah-compliant instruments.
The programme is expected to support the development of domestic capital markets and provide retail investors with greater access to government-backed financial opportunities.
