Dubai: The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has announced the launch of ‘Retail Sukuk’, a groundbreaking initiative designed to enable citizens and residents to invest in Shariah-compliant, government-backed Treasury Sukuk (T-Sukuk) through fractionalised digital investment platforms operated by participating banks in the UAE.
According to Emirates News Agency, this strategic initiative aims to promote financial inclusion and broaden the investor base for government financial instruments. By enabling easy and secure investment in line with Islamic principles, the initiative allows individuals to start investing with a minimum amount of AED4,000. This aligns with the UAE leadership’s vision to economically empower the community and supports the objectives of the ‘Year of Community’, a campaign that emphasizes values of solidarity, enhances the wellbeing of individuals and families, and encourages active community participation for a sustainable future.
H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance of the UAE, stated, “The ‘Retail Sukuk’ initiative reflects the UAE’s vision and its leadership’s directives to empower the community and enhance participation in the national development journey through financial policies that prioritize human wellbeing. Launched within the framework of the ‘Year of Community’, the initiative opens new horizons for citizens and residents to contribute to shaping the future through secure, government-backed investment instruments.”
Furthermore, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum emphasized that the initiative transforms investment in government bonds into an accessible, comprehensive digital experience. It enables all segments of society to access high-quality financial instruments that were previously limited to institutional investors, marking a strategic step towards advancing financial inclusion and promoting a culture of long-term savings.
Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, remarked, “The ‘Retail Sukuk’ initiative represents a qualitative leap in the development of government investment instruments, enhancing individual participation in economic growth and providing a direct avenue to contribute to the national development journey. This initiative realizes the Ministry of Finance’s vision of building an innovative financial environment that provides secure, sustainable investment solutions that benefit the entire community.”
He also noted that the initiative aligns with the objectives of the ‘Year of Community’ by promoting responsible saving habits and increasing financial awareness across all societal segments. It reflects a spirit of partnership between the public and private sectors in fostering values of giving and active economic participation, contributing to a balanced and sustainable economy that serves future aspirations.
The initiative focuses on raising awareness of investment opportunities in T-Sukuk among citizens and residents, encouraging broader participation among individual investors. It aims to build confidence by highlighting the ease of registration and full compliance with Shariah standards, while stimulating long-term investment in T-Sukuk as a secure and sustainable savings tool.
The Ministry of Finance highlighted that the Shariah-compliant T-Sukuk, previously available only to institutional investors, are now accessible to all citizens and residents in the UAE. This marks a significant milestone in expanding inclusive access to government-backed Islamic financial instruments.
Retail Sukuk are denominated in UAE Dirhams and linked to government-backed T-Sukuk already traded in the market and designated for institutional investors. This allows individual investors to benefit from the same high-quality, sovereign-backed assets that were previously limited to large investors.
The Ministry further announced that investment in retail T-Sukuk will be available through participating banks, with the name of the first bank to be revealed on 3rd November 2025. The implementation will adhere to the highest standards of transparency and quality, offering a valuable opportunity for savings and portfolio diversification. This enables retail investors to add a stable, government-backed financial instrument to their investment portfolios.