UAE opens Shariah-compliant Treasury Sukuk to individual investors for the first time

Previously, Shariah-compliant Treasury Sukuk were available only to institutional investors, restricting access to large-scale financial entities and organizations/ Image:X

The UAE is opening government-backed Islamic investments to the public for the first time. Through the new Retail Sukuk initiative, citizens and residents can now invest in Shariah-compliant Treasury Sukuk (T-Sukuk) digitally, gaining access to secure, sovereign-backed financial instruments that were previously limited to institutional investors.

The Ministry of Finance has launched the Retail Sukuk initiative, allowing individuals to invest in UAE government-backed T-Sukuk in fractional amounts starting from AED 4,000. Previously, these instruments were available only to institutional investors. His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, said:“The Ministry of Finance seeks to transform investment in government bonds into an accessible, comprehensive digital experience, enabling all segments of society to access high-quality financial instruments that were previously limited to institutional investors. 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. This move aligns with the UAE’s financial inclusion goals and the ‘Year of Community’, promoting economic empowerment, savings, and sustainable investment opportunities.

Retail Sukuk are denominated in UAE Dirhams and linked directly to government-backed T-Sukuk already traded in the market. By investing, individual investors benefit from the same sovereign-backed assets previously reserved for large institutional players. The initiative will be accessible through participating banks, with the first bank to be announced on 3 November 2025. Implementation will adhere to the highest standards of transparency and quality. The initiative’s objectives include:

Sukuk (Arabic: صكوك, ṣukūk; plural of ṣakk, ‘legal instrument’) are Islamic financial certificates structured to comply with Shariah law. Unlike conventional bonds, which pay interest prohibited under Islamic law (riba), sukuk pay profits from tangible assets rather than interest. The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) defines sukuk as:“Securities of equal denomination representing individual ownership interests in a portfolio of eligible existing or future assets.” Historically, sukuk were legitimized by the Fiqh Academy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in February 1988. They provide an alternative to conventional debt instruments, linking returns to a specific asset and ensuring Shariah compliance while offering regular profit distributions. For example, sukuk holders may own partial rights to a property managed via a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), receiving rental income rather than interest. While sukuk resemble bonds in providing scheduled payments, they are fundamentally asset-based rather than asset-backed, aligning with Islamic principles that prohibit guaranteed interest while still enabling investors to benefit from asset returns.

Empowering the community

By opening access to T-Sukuk for the general public, the UAE Ministry of Finance is creating a digital, accessible, and inclusive investment environment. Citizens and residents can now diversify savings with secure, sovereign-backed financial instruments while contributing to the broader economic development of the country. This initiative represents a major milestone in financial inclusion, combining Shariah-compliant investment, transparency, and digital accessibility to provide an opportunity for all UAE residents to participate in government-backed savings and long-term growth. Go to Source