Federal Debt Management Office

Empowering the UAE’s Sustainable Economic Growth

The Federal Debt Management Office plays a key role in advancing the UAE’s sustainable economic development by minimising costs and managing challenges with the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness, while maintaining the stability of the country’s financial sector and securing the funding requirements for the federal government.

Formally established as a directorate within the UAE Ministry of Finance through Decretal Federal Law No (9) of 2018 Regarding Public Debt, the Federal Debt Management Office (FDMO) is mandated to maintain sovereign debt at a sustainable level, raise sovereign funds with minimal risk and cost, and serve as the federal authority for the UAE’s sovereign credit ratings.

Empowering the UAE’s Sustainable Economic Growth
Legal Framework for Public Debt

The Federal Decree Law No (9) of 2018 on Public Debt regulates the general rules governing the issuance and management of Public Debt in accordance with a prudent and safe policy, to manage its risks and minimise its costs.

The legal framework defines the functions of the FDMO, in accordance with the UAE financial laws and regulations, to ensure prudent and efficient federal debt management, while promoting the highest standards of transparency and accountability in all operations undertaken on behalf of the UAE federal government. In line with this mandate, the FDMO aims to achieve the following strategic objectives:

Support and develop a highly efficient financial market in the UAE

Provide a federal mechanism for financing infrastructure projects, government financial guarantees, and emergency financial obligations

Provide another level of funding for the federal government to achieve a diversified financing strategy

Provide support to the Central Bank of the UAE to enhance liquidity management within the banking sector

The Federal Decree Law No (9) of 2018 on Public Debt
Public Debt | Year : 2023
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Key roles and scope of activities
The FDMO implements its functions through its activities and procedures which focus on achieving sustained funding within acceptable risks and costs, promoting the UAE as a strong credit rating borrower, maintaining communications and relationships with key entities, and promoting the development of the local debt market.
The FDMO Operates in Accordance with the Following Mandates:
  • Propose and implement strategies and policies of Public Debt management in coordination with the Central Bank and submit them to the Minister for approval by the Cabinet.
  • Monitor financial risks and any other risks related to the issuance and trading of any Public Debt Instrument and propose solutions to manage and monitor such risks.
  • Provide advice to the Minister regarding investment options for any Public Debt Surplus through safe and highly liquid investment instruments, in coordination with the Central Bank and the Emirates Investment Authority.
  • Provide advice to the Minister to determine the level of acceptable risks when borrowing or issuing any guarantees for the purpose of implementing any of the governmental development projects.
  • Coordinate with the Central Bank regarding the management of issuance and sale of government bonds, treasury bills, and any other government securities.
  • Coordinate with the local government in each emirate to support and develop highly efficient primary and secondary financial markets, through the issuance of Public Debt Instruments in the State
  • Promote the position of the UAE Federal Government as a reliable, credible and sovereign borrower, in cooperation with other relevant authorities, through frequent communication, maintaining relations with banks and investors and disclosing to them the prevailing conditions of the banking system, as well as the current general status and expectations for the economy of the UAE and scoring the best credit rating issued by international credit rating agencies.
  • Enhance, develop, and maintain communications and relations with other relevant authorities.
  • Propose and implement strategies and policies of Public Debt management in coordination with the Central Bank and submit them to the Minister for approval by the Cabinet

Organisational Structure

The FDMO is structured across Front, Middle and Back Office functions, facilitating both specialisation and effective risk management within the organisation.

  • Minister of Finance
  • Minister of FDMO
  • Coordinator
  • Front Office

    (Issuance and Market Relations)

  • Middle Office

    (Analytics and Risk Management)

  • Back Office

    (Recording Transactions, Managing Financial Records, and legal support)

  • Minister of Finance
  • Minister of FDMO
  • AA
  • Coordinator
  • Front Office

    (Recording Transactions, Managing Financial Records, and legal support)

  • Back Office

    (Recording Transactions, Managing Financial Records, and legal support)

  • Back Office

    (Recording Transactions, Managing Financial Records, and legal support)

Risk Management
Mitigating risks to ensure fiscal stability

The FDMO is taking a hands-on approach to managing risks in the debt and investment portfolios. It will prepare a Medium-Term Debt Strategy (MTDS) covering the next three fiscal years, which will address the annual borrowing plan and debt operations to align the structure of the debt and investment portfolios with FDMO’s cost and risk preferences. The MTDS will set out the strategy for managing the total portfolio of liabilities and assets under FDMO’s control. The FDMO risk management policy addresses all key risk types, including:

Financing and Liquidity Risk

Mitigate refinancing risk by managing the maturity profile of debt and asset portfolios so that there is sufficient cash on hand to meet future maturities

Credit Risk

Managing credit risk by ensuring that counterparts are rated at acceptable approved levels, and mitigate exposure through netting and collateralisation

Market Risk

Mitigate market risk for changes in interest rate, currency and commodity prices by employing asset-liability matching strategies where it is both feasible and cost effective.

Operational Risk

Formulate an operational risk management framework that includes a business continuity plan and disaster recovery plan.