Dubai: The UAE Federal Government’s second Sovereign Retail Treasury Sukuk (T-Sukuk) began trading on Nasdaq Dubai on October 1, giving individual investors another opportunity to access a government-backed Islamic investment instrument from AED 1,000.
The five-year sukuk carries a fixed annual profit rate of 5.06% and is scheduled to mature on September 30, 2031. The AED 50 million issue is listed under the symbol UAESUKUK0931. The Ministry of Finance had set the minimum subscription amount at AED 1,000 when the offering opened in September.
The listing follows the completion of the second issuance process, including allocation and settlement. The Ministry of Finance said the sukuk was scheduled to begin secondary-market trading on Nasdaq Dubai on October 1.
How the 5.06% T-Sukuk works
The sukuk has a five-year tenor, with profit distributed twice a year. Payments are scheduled for March 30 and September 30. At the minimum AED 1,000 denomination, the annual 5.06% rate represents about AED 50.60 in annual profit, or approximately AED 25.30 per six-month distribution, assuming the investment is held at the relevant nominal amount.
The principal is scheduled to be repaid at maturity, subject to the terms of the issuance.
The Ministry of Finance describes Retail T-Sukuk as Shariah-compliant, dirham-denominated sovereign instruments structured under an Ijarah/Murabaha framework. The programme was introduced to allow UAE citizens and residents to participate directly in new government Sukuk issuances, which had traditionally been more accessible to institutional investors.
Investors can trade before maturity
The Nasdaq Dubai listing means investors are not necessarily required to hold the sukuk until 2031. Once listed, holdings can be traded through authorised exchange members, subject to market conditions.
However, selling before maturity carries an important distinction from simply holding the sukuk until its scheduled redemption date. The market price can move as interest rates, market yields, demand and other conditions change. An investor selling before maturity could therefore receive more or less than the original AED 1,000 amount.
The Ministry of Finance says listed Retail T-Sukuk are supported by market makers and liquidity providers to facilitate secondary-market trading.
Second retail issuance follows strong demand for the first
The latest listing builds on the UAE’s first Sovereign Retail T-Sukuk, which was launched in June 2026.
The inaugural issue initially targeted AED 50 million but attracted subscription orders worth AED 445 million. The Ministry subsequently increased the issuance size to AED 100 million. That first sukuk had a two-year tenor and a 4.30% annual profit rate, with its secondary-market trading beginning on Nasdaq Dubai on July 2.
The Ministry said 76% of demand for the inaugural issuance came from subscriptions of AED 10,000 or less, while UAE nationals represented 72% of the investor base. Investors under 25 and women together accounted for 45% of subscribers.
The figures helped establish the Retail T-Sukuk programme as a channel for bringing individual investors into the UAE’s sovereign debt market.
What the new listing means for UAE retail investors
For individual savers, the second issuance provides access to a government-backed investment instrument with a relatively low minimum investment and scheduled semi-annual profit distributions.
It also expands the range of UAE sovereign instruments available to retail investors through the domestic capital-market infrastructure. The Ministry of Finance says the programme is intended to support financial inclusion, encourage long-term saving and broaden participation in the UAE’s capital markets.
The AED 1,000 minimum also means the product is accessible at a substantially smaller ticket size than many conventional institutional fixed-income investments.
Investors should nevertheless distinguish between the fixed profit terms of the sukuk and the market value at which it may trade after listing. The 5.06% rate applies to the issuance’s stated terms; the price an investor receives when selling in the secondary market can vary.
The second Retail T-Sukuk therefore marks another step in the UAE’s programme to give individual citizens and residents direct access to sovereign Islamic investment products while developing a wider retail market for government securities.
What happened to the UAE’s second retail T-Sukuk?
The UAE’s second Sovereign Retail T-Sukuk began secondary-market trading on Nasdaq Dubai on October 1, 2026. It has a five-year tenor and a 5.06% annual profit rate.
What is the profit rate on the second UAE retail T-Sukuk?
The fixed annual profit rate is 5.06%, with distributions scheduled twice a year.
What is the minimum investment?
The minimum subscription amount for the Retail T-Sukuk is AED 1,000.
When does the second retail T-Sukuk mature?
The sukuk is scheduled to mature on September 30, 2031.
Can investors sell the T-Sukuk before maturity?
Yes. Following its listing, the sukuk can be traded on the secondary market through authorised exchange members. Its market price can, however, differ from its original denomination.
How often are profits paid?
Profit distributions are scheduled semi-annually, on March 30 and September 30.
Who can invest in UAE Retail T-Sukuk?
The Ministry of Finance says the Retail T-Sukuk programme enables UAE citizens and residents to invest directly in new sovereign Sukuk issuances.
Is the UAE Retail T-Sukuk a bank deposit?
No. It is a listed sovereign Sukuk investment instrument rather than a conventional bank deposit. If sold before maturity, its market price can move according to market conditions.
