Saudi leads GCC bond, sukuk issuances in Q1
Bond and sukuk issuances in the GCC reached $55.04 billion in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 5.6% increase year-on-year, according to data from Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz).
The total was raised through 95 deals during the quarter, driven largely by government-backed issuances and continued investor demand for fixed income instruments across the region.
Saudi Arabia accounted for the largest share of issuances at $32.54 billion, representing 59.1% of the total market, followed by the United Arab Emirates at $13.57 billion, or 24.7%. Qatar contributed $4.2 billion, while Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman recorded $2.1 billion, $1.98 billion and $650 million respectively.
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Muhammad Ali Bandial