The Kingdom sold USD 5.5 bn in a two-part sukuk sale yesterday, Bloomberg reports. The issuance was split into a USD 2.25 bn five-year note and a USD 3.25 bn ten-year bond.

The details: The sale was heavily oversubscribed, attracting some USD 17.5 bn in orders. Strong demand allowed for tighter pricing than initial guidance; the five-year tranche priced at 65 basis points (bps) over US Treasuries, down from initial guidance of around 95 bps, while the ten-year tranche priced at 75 bps, down from 105 bps. Settlement is expected on September 9, 2025.

The sale brings Saudi Arabia's total international debt issuance this year to nearly USD 20 bn, putting it on track to challenge the 2017 record of USD 21.5 bn and reinforcing its position as one of the most active issuers in emerging markets, the business information service said.

Banks leading the sale: The issuance was arranged primarily by Citigroup, HSBC Holdings, JPMorgan Chase, and Standard Chartered, according to Bloomberg’s sources.

IN CONTEXT- This borrowing supports a fiscal deficit projected by both Riyad Capital and the IMF to reach 4.3% of GDP this year — a level the IMF considers appropriate for funding Vision 2030 projects. Riyad Capital anticipates the deficit will narrow to 3.4% next year, driven by a planned fiscal consolidation that follows a 32% cumulative rise in government expenditure between 2021 and 2024.

DATA POINT- Budget deficit narrowed to SAR 34.5 bn in 2Q 2025 from SAR 58.7 bn in the previous quarter. Government revenues reached SAR 301.6 bn during the quarter, down 15% y-o-y, while expenditures fell 9% y-o-y to SAR 336.1 bn.

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