Abu Dhabi bank follows Dubai peer to dollar bond market

First Abu Dhabi Bank followed its Dubai rival to the debt market by starting to market dollar-denominated Islamic bonds on Thursday.

Abu Dhabi’s biggest lender opened books on a $500m five-year sukuk, setting initial price guidance at between 100 and 105 basis points over midswaps, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private.

A senior unsecured debt sale is expected to be closed on Thursday.

Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, KFH Capital KSCP, NCB Capital and Standard Chartered Bank are the joint lead managers for the sale.

Gulf banks are joining a wave of global borrowing after yields crashed following unprecedented stimulus by authorities to keep economies afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

Emirates NBD raised $750m this week in the Middle East’s first dollar bond sale of 2021.

Governments and companies in the Gulf will issue about $120bn of dollar debt and Islamic securities this year, according to Franklin Templeton.

That compares with a record $126bn last year.