DIB backs Islamic portion of int’l syndicated loan for Olam Agri: Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has backed a USD 1.85 bn dual-tranche syndicated facility for Singapore-based agribusiness Olam Agri, it said in a pressrelease. The DFM-listed lender acted as a senior mandated lead arranger and investment agent for the facility’s USD 250 mn Islamic tranche. The loan carries a three-year tenor, and will be used for general corporate purposes.

Why it matters: The move marks DIB’s first financing with Olam Agri and adds to its growing portfolio of cross-border Islamic syndications. “This transaction is a clear reflection of the growing global demand for Islamic liquidity, not as an alternative, but as a core instrument for financing the real economy,” said Ali Ahmad Said, DIB’s chief of investment banking.

About Olam: Olam Agri is majority-owned by the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company, a vehicle owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment fund, with Singapore’s Olam Group retaining a minority stake. The company operates across grains, edible oils, rice, animal protein, and cotton, and handled over 45 mn metric tons in 2024.

REMEMBER- The UAE’s debt market was active in 1H: Debt market activity in the UAE edged higher in the first half of the year, hitting USD 32.9 bn, up 3.8% y-o-y, even as most GCC countries saw double-digit declines. The y-o-y growth was largely driven by corporate players, particularly banks.

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