Emirati port operator DP World listed its USD 100 mn blue bond issuance on Nasdaq Dubai, according to a press release. The issuance kicked off in December of last year as part of the firm’s broader USD 10 bn international medium-term borrowing program, and secured Global investment management firm T. Rowe Price Associates as an anchor investor.

Why the listing? DP World’s Blue Bond was already secured by investors before its listing on Nasdaq Dubai, as is common with corporate bonds sold through private placements. However, the public listing allows for secondary market trading, giving investors the option to buy and sell the bond, enhancing liquidity. It also ensures regulatory oversight, boosts market credibility, and sets a pricing benchmark for similar future issuances. Additionally, listing on a major exchange like Nasdaq Dubai could attract more potential investors over time, reinforcing the bond’s role in sustainable finance.

REMEMBER- This marks the first corporate blue bond issuance in the MENA region, and the wider Central and Eastern Europe, Middle east, and North Africa (CEMEA) region. DP World and its subsidiaries currently have 11 debt listings on Nasdaq, comprising bonds and sukuk, with a combined value of USD 10 bn.

ADVISORS- Citigroup supported the port operator in arranging the issuance under its updated sustainable finance framework.

About Nasdaq’s ESG-linked issuances: Nasdaq Dubai has about USD 20 bn of ESG-linked issuances out of a total debt listing of about USD 137 bn. These include green bonds, sustainability bonds, sustainability-linked bonds, and — with DP World’s offering — blue bonds.

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