By Saifur Rahman The UAE economic growth is expected to remain healthy at around 4 percent while fiscal surplus is expected to decline to 4 percent of GDP this year from an estimated 5 percent of GDP last year, the International Monetary Fund said. This is slightly lower than the projections made by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) which last month projected the UAE’s real […]
DP World has launched a multi-currency stablecoin aimed at transforming cross-border trade payments. This initiative seeks to reduce settlement costs, enhance transparency, and expedite transaction times for international businesses.
The company is collaborating with leading financial institutions and technology providers to address inefficiencies in traditional cross-border payment systems. By leveraging blockchain technology, DP World aims to offer a more efficient and secure alternative to conventional banking methods.
The stablecoin solution is designed to simplify and accelerate cross-border payments, ultimately helping businesses in emerging economies navigate the complexities of global trade and unlock new growth opportunities. This initiative is part of DP World’s broader strategy to offer end-to-end solutions for its customers and facilitate seamless global trade.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, DP World’s group chairman and CEO, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, “By introducing stablecoin-based payment options, we are not just addressing a critical gap in the trade ecosystem but also reaffirming our commitment to innovation and leadership in global commerce. This initiative aligns with DP World’s broader mission to enhance trade flows and economic development in regions that need it most.”
The new payment system is designed to drastically reduce settlement costs and times for cross-border transactions. For example, a textile manufacturer in Ethiopia that exports raw cotton to an Indian fabric producer currently faces significant delays in receiving payments due to the traditional correspondent banking systems, which require multiple intermediaries. This process often leads to settlement times extending over several days, or even weeks. By adopting stablecoin-based payments, DP World aims to streamline this process, reducing both the time and cost associated with cross-border transactions.
The initiative also seeks to improve financial accessibility for businesses of all sizes. In the Ethiopian example, the textile supplier faces cash flow constraints that limit its ability to scale operations or meet new orders. Similarly, the Indian fabric producer is often unsure whether shipments will be dispatched on time due to payment delays. The stablecoin solution will provide more predictable, real-time transactions that can help both businesses plan and manage their operations more efficiently.
By Satyaki Chakraborty More than six weeks have passed since the visit of Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri to Dhaka on December 9 and his wide ranging talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart to improve the worsening bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. Latest indications, however, suggest that the interim government headed by Dr. Mohammad […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 January 2025 – Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Paul Chan, is among nearly 3,000 political leaders, financial officials and business elites attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Hong Kong SAR’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, speaks at the “2025 Davos-Caixin CEO Luncheon” in Davos, Switzerland. Promoting Hong Kong’s advantages […]
By Nitya Chakraborty Is the U.S. President Donald Trump looking for a big deal with the Chinese President Xi Jinping in his second term to reshape the global order favouring two super powers and marginalizing both Western Europe and Russia? The question gets all the relevance if one analyses the policy announcements by the second […]
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 January 2025 – The U.S. dollar has been appreciating almost relentlessly since the end of September. In just three and a half months, the Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the greenback relative to a basket of six major foreign currencies, including the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, and Swiss franc, was […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 January 2025 – Hang Lung Properties Limited (SEHK stock code: 00101) (“the “Company” or “Hang Lung”) announced that it has successfully signed a five-year HK$10 billion loan facilities (“the Facilities”) with a consortium of more than 10 international, Chinese and local banks. The Facilities received an encouraging response from the banking community, demonstrating strong confidence in Hang Lung’s […]
No tariffs on Day One from Trump? Sure, that’s made the dollar wobble—but let’s not kid ourselves. The tariff threats, trade drama, and inflationary fireworks are still there. Trump’s first 100 days are set to be a rollercoaster for the greenback. The President’s reported plan to “study” trade relationships rather than unleash tariffs immediately is hardly a sign that he’s gone soft. This is the man who […]
MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 January 2025 – On Sunday, January 19, the internationally acclaimed piano virtuoso Lang Lang, alongside the Macao Orchestra, captivated audiences at the Galaxy International Convention Center (“GICC”), one of Asia’s most iconic and advanced MICE destinations, with a grand symphony of romantic classical music. Lang Lang carefully curated pivotal works from his artistic journey and 2025 tour, presenting masterpieces […]
Mubadala Investment Company has identified private credit as the best-performing asset class over the past three years, underscoring its resilience amid global financial fluctuations. This recognition aligns with a broader trend of institutional investors gravitating towards private credit to diversify portfolios and seek stable returns. Private credit, encompassing direct lending, mezzanine financing, and distressed debt, has expanded significantly, with the market projected to reach $2 trillion in […]
Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the United Arab Emirates’ largest Shariah-compliant lender by assets, has increased its shareholding in Türkiye’s T.O.M. Group from 20% to 25%. This strategic move underscores DIB’s commitment to expanding its presence in Türkiye’s burgeoning digital banking and financial technology sectors. The initial acquisition occurred in October 2023, marking DIB’s entry into Türkiye’s digital financial services market. The T.O.M. Group, established by Aydın Group, […]
By Nantoo Banerjee Indians are travelling abroad like never before. Last year, over 30 million Indians travelled abroad, mostly on leisure trips. The number is nearly 15 percent more than that in 2023. The total expenditure rose by 25 percent. Rich and upper middle-class Indians are also increasingly sending their children for foreign studies. Over […]
Ring in the Lunar New Year with Joy, Colour, and Prosperity Immerse Yourself in the Joyful Installation by Knot Designer Zoe Siu This Lunar New Year HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 January 2025 – This Lunar New Year, Pacific Place and Starstreet Precinct invite you to a celebration of luck, tradition, and modern artistry with the “Weaving Celebration of Fortunes”, running from today […]
By Anjan Roy The recent volatility in the exchange rate of the Indian rupee against the US dollar has given rise to a debate on how the central bank should react to the situation of progressive depreciation of the national currency. To wit, the rupee appears to hit 90 to a dollar in no time, […]Numou, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has significantly expanded its digital lending marketplace by partnering with prominent institutions, including the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and private credit providers such as Credible-X, Klubworks, and NymCard Payment Technologies. This initiative aims to revolutionize financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offering a seamless, fully digital application process that connects […]
Experts explore new economic opportunities presented by New Productive Forces, with a focus on comprehensive support for businesses HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 – As 2025 unfolds, the global economic landscape is being reshaped, with innovative technologies redefining industrial development. This marks a crucial period for Hong Kong, poised to spearhead future economic growth through innovation-driven productivity. Hong Kong Productivity Council […]
The Chinese New Year Festival has been Recognized as Part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity A 150-Million-Baht (US$ 4.35 Million) Investment to Honor the 50-Year Milestone, Featuring Breathtaking Sculpture Exhibition, Cultural Displays and Performances, and a Vibrant Chinese Street Market. BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 January 2025 – ICONSIAM, a global landmark on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, developed by […]
Aldar Properties PJSC has secured a $2.45 billion (AED 9 billion) sustainability-linked syndicated revolving credit facility, marking the largest such deal by a real estate company in the Middle East. This five-year senior unsecured facility comprises both conventional and Islamic tranches in UAE dirham and US dollar currencies, enhancing Aldar’s liquidity to approximately AED 27 billion.
The syndication attracted participation from 15 prominent international and regional financial institutions, including Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Bank of China, Citi, Dubai Islamic Bank, HSBC, and J.P. Morgan. This broad participation underscores the strong confidence in Aldar’s creditworthiness and strategic growth plans.
Faisal Falaknaz, Group Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer at Aldar, stated that the facility is a significant milestone reflecting the trust and confidence that global and regional banks place in Aldar’s business model and growth trajectory. He emphasized that this facility, along with a recent $1 billion hybrid notes issuance, positions Aldar to drive strategic initiatives and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
The facility is linked to sustainability performance targets, showcasing Aldar’s commitment to measurable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. By integrating sustainability into its financing framework, Aldar reinforces its position as a leader in sustainable growth while supporting its broader ambitions of creating long-term value for stakeholders.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 – To attract high-yield visitors to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) constantly promotes the development of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism through elevating business travellers’ experience in Hong Kong, reinforcing the city’s position as the “World’s Meeting Place”. In line with this mission, and with the vision of the newly released […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 – The 18th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) concluded successfully on January 14 after a two-day run at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which drew more than 3,600 participants, including over 130 high-level speakers, and facilitated 700-plus one-on-one AFF Deal-making meetings to link up sources of funds with investment projects around the globe. The Asian […]
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 – Throughout history, cities have flourished by embracing the power of water. Over the past few decades, waterfront cities worldwide have leveraged their unique development conditions and strategic opportunities to explore and implement innovative approaches to revitalizing riverside areas. The development of world-class waterfront zones, exemplified by the Seine River in Paris, showcases added value in industries, […]
A Dubai court has ordered the former CEO of Drake & Scull International, Khaldoun Al Tabari, alongside a former employee, to pay a staggering $41.3 million in damages. The court ruling follows the company’s involvement in financial mismanagement that led to significant losses. Al Tabari and the ex-employee, identified as an unnamed former senior manager, were found guilty of embezzlement and fraudulent practices during their tenure at […]
Global sukuk issuance is forecasted to approach $190 billion to $200 billion in 2025, driven by monetary easing and substantial financing needs in core Islamic finance countries, according to S&P Global Ratings.
In 2024, the total issuance stabilized at $193.4 billion, slightly down from $197.8 billion in 2023. This performance was underpinned by a significant increase in foreign currency-denominated issuance and a drop in local-currency issuance. The stabilization was further aided by strong financing needs in core Islamic finance countries, the need to attract foreign capital, and improving global liquidity conditions, with major central banks starting to ease their monetary policy.
Local currency-denominated sukuk issuance fell by 14.6% year on year, primarily due to lower issuance in Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkiye, and Indonesia. The largest drop was in Malaysia, where government issuance decreased because of a smaller fiscal deficit due to the reduction of subsidies. Similarly, Malaysia’s central bank’s issuance fell as a result of tighter liquidity conditions for the Islamic banks as their financing growth continued to outpace deposit growth. Pakistan also saw lower local-currency issuance, as the government’s fiscal position remains under pressure and monetary conditions remain tight, as did Turkiye, where tight monetary conditions resulted in lower local currency-denominated issuance. However, local-currency issuance in Saudi Arabia resumed its growing trend as the government tapped the market with jumbo issuance and started issuing retail sukuk.
Conversely, foreign currency-denominated sukuk issuance increased significantly, rising to $72.7 billion in 2024 from $56.5 billion in 2023. This surge was mainly attributable to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Among GCC countries, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait led the way, with banks, corporations, and the government of Saudi Arabia stepping up their foreign-currency issuance, while banks and corporations in Qatar and Oman were also more active in this area. The United Arab Emirates ended the year with marginally lower foreign-currency sukuk issuance than last year. In Malaysia, performance was mainly underpinned by increased issuance by the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation and a couple of issuances by the central bank and the sovereign wealth fund. Indonesia’s higher sukuk volumes were due to the country’s increased sovereign issuance.
Fitch Ratings reported that global outstanding sukuk grew 8.5% year-on-year to $900 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2024. Sukuk held a large 30% share of the global debt capital market outstanding in core markets. In the GCC, the debt capital market is about $1 trillion outstanding, with sukuk holding a 37% share.
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s 50-basis-point rate cut in September improved financing conditions, leading to a rise in global sukuk issuances. Fitch expects rates to reach 4.5% at the end of 2024 and 3.5% at the end of 2025, boosting issuance activity in the fourth quarter of 2024 and into 2025. A further decline in interest rates is anticipated to support refinancing upcoming maturities and funding diversification goals.
Despite the positive outlook, risks to the sukuk pipeline remain. Sharia-related complexities, rising geopolitical risks, and oil price volatilities could affect market growth. Bashar Al Natoor, global head of Islamic finance at Fitch Ratings, noted that while there is a build-up of the sukuk pipeline partially supported by the recent Fed cut, these downside risks could impact the market.
In the first half of 2024, global sukuk issuance reached $91.9 billion, a slight increase from $91.3 billion during the same period in 2023. This growth was significantly influenced by a 23.8% rise in foreign currency issuances, which hit $32.7 billion by June 30, 2024, up from $26.4 billion the previous year. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Malaysia, and Kuwait were the main contributors to this increase.
However, the market might face disruptions starting next year with the adoption of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions’ (AAOIFI) Standard 62 guidelines. These guidelines, which transition the industry toward asset-backed sukuk by requiring the real transfer of underlying assets to investors, could impact the market depending on investor and issuer response. Despite potential challenges, existing sukuk are unlikely to be disrupted as any changes in contractual obligations would require investor consent.
Showcasing innovative Fintech solutions to government and business leaders HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2025 – Cyberport, Hong Kong’s largest FinTech hub, is thrilled to be the FinTech Partner for the prestigious Asian Financial Forum (AFF), being held on 13 and 14 January. This is the ninth consecutive year that Cyberport has held that distinction, and its enduring commitment to this landmark […]
