The Ministry of Finance has announced the launch of the “Retail Sukuk” Initiative, which allows individual investors to invest in Shariah-compliant, government-backed Treasury Sukuk (T-Sukuk) through fractionalized digital investment platforms of the participating banks in the UAE. The strategic initiative aims to promote financial inclusion and broaden the investor base for government financial instruments by enabling citizens and residents to invest easily and securely in accordance with Islamic principles. Investment can begin from AED 4,000 only. The initiative aligns with the UAE leadership’s vision to economically empower the community and supports the objectives of the Year of Community 2025, which reinforces the values of solidarity and giving, enhances the wellbeing of individuals and families, and enables the community to contribute to building a more sustainable future. Safe investment instruments His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, said: “The Retail Sukuk Initiative embodies the UAE’s vision and the directives of its wise leadership to empower society and enhance participation in the national development journey through financial policies that prioritise human wellbeing. The launch of this initiative, within the framework of the Year of Community 2025, opens new horizons for citizens and residents to participate in shaping the future through secure, government-backed investment instruments.” His Highness added: “Through this initiative, 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. This represents a strategic step towards advancing financial inclusion and promoting a culture of long-term savings, ensuring the sustainability of the state’s financial resources and supporting development goals across various sectors.” Paradigm Shift His Excellency Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, said: “The Retail Sukuk Initiative marks a qualitative leap in the development of government investment instruments, enhancing individuals’ participation in economic growth and granting them a direct opportunity to contribute to the national development journey. This initiative translates the Ministry of Finance’s vision of building an innovative financial environment that provides secure, sustainable investment solutions that benefit the entire community.” H.E. added: “The initiative aligns with the objectives of the Year of Community 2025 by promoting responsible saving habits and increasing financial awareness across all segments of society. It also reflects the spirit of partnership between the public and private sectors in fostering the values of giving and active economic participation, contributing to building a balanced, sustainable economy that serves future aspirations.” Raising awareness of investment opportunities The Ministry stated that the initiative aims to raise awareness of investment opportunities in T-Sukuk among citizens and residents, encouraging broader participation among individual investors and building confidence by highlighting the ease of registration and full compliance with Shariah standards. It also seeks to stimulate long-term investment in T-Sukuk as a secure and sustainable savings tool. The Ministry added that the Shariah-compliant T-Sukuk, which were previously available only to institutional investors, are now accessible to all citizens and residents in the UAE, marking a significant milestone in expanding inclusive access to government-backed Islamic financial instruments. The Retail Sukuk are denominated in UAE Dirhams and linked to government-backed T-Sukuk already traded in the market and designated for institutional investors, allowing individual investors to benefit from the same high-quality, sovereign-backed assets that were previously limited to large investors. The Ministry noted that Investment in retail T-Sukuk will be available through participating banks, with the name of the first bank to be announced on 3 November 2025. The implementation will adhere to the highest standards of transparency and quality. This initiative offers a valuable opportunity for savings and portfolio diversification, enabling retail investors to add a stable, government-backed financial instrument to their investment portfolios.
