Latest news with #AbdulAzizAlGhurair
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
A Defining New Era for Philanthropy and Strategic Giving in the UAE
Philanthropy in the UAE is undergoing a profound transformation. Rooted in centuries-old traditions of faith and community, it is now evolving into a dynamic force for systemic change and innovation. Philanthropy is not only growing in volume – it is advancing with sharper purpose and more strategic intent, building an ecosystem as forward-looking and ambitious as the UAE itself. To better understand this shift, I had the privilege of interviewing over 50 thought and action leaders from around the world, including several distinguished voices from the UAE, who are helping to shape the future of giving for my book, The Business of Philanthropy. At the heart of this shift is a growing recognition that philanthropy can fund experimental, high-impact solutions that governments or businesses may be unable to tackle on their own. H.E. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, President of the American University of Sharjah and founder of the Kalimat Foundation, notes: 'Philanthropy is risk capital, we can and should take risks and go where others are unable to.' This mindset is unlocking a more entrepreneurial model of giving – one that positions philanthropy as a driver of bold experimentation deep-rooted transformation. Business leaders turned philanthropists are increasingly applying the same principles that powered their commercial success to their philanthropic pursuits – setting clear objectives, measuring outcomes, and fostering collaboration. H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Mashreq Bank and Chair of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, emphasizes: 'We should approach philanthropy in the same way we would our businesses, with clear and specific goals in mind.' A Legacy Recast The Arab region has long stood out for its deep philanthropic roots. Islamic giving practices such as Zakat and Sadaqah collectively generate between $400 billion and $1 trillion annually, making Islamic philanthropy one of the world's largest sources of charitable capital. Giving from the Arabian Gulf alone is estimated at around $210 billion per year. A new generation of philanthropists is recasting this legacy, bringing structure, strategy, and systems thinking to their giving. This evolution is driven not just by the accumulation of wealth, but by a growing awareness of the need to move from alleviating symptoms to tackling root causes. Fadi Ghandour, Executive Chairman of Wamda Group, succinctly puts it: 'When you do it strategically, you're thinking carefully about the long-term impact.' Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, President of the Arab International Women's Forum, underlines the central role of youth in this transformation: 'Our youth are the future of the region, and they have outstanding ideas about the social changes that they want to see happen in their communities and in their countries.' Technology as a Force Multiplier Technology is accelerating this transformation, making philanthropy more transparent, efficient, and inclusive. Digital platforms are enabling new models of giving – from crowdfunding to blockchain-powered audits – while big data is redefining how we understand and measure impact. Muna Al Gurg, Vice Chairperson of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, observes: 'In a world that is increasingly digitised, there's going to be more data than we know what to do with, which in the world of philanthropy is a high-quality problem to have.' Artificial intelligence is now further amplifying this potential, helping donors identify needs, predict outcomes, and optimise impact. With the UAE investing heavily in AI, including through initiatives like MBZUAI and the recently announced 5 gigawatts UAE–US AI Campus, the country is uniquely positioned to lead this convergence of technology and philanthropy. Yet, the question remains: how do we harness these tools to empower the underserved rather than overwhelm them? The answer lies in embedding innovation with intention and grounding every digital leap in human connection. A Nation Positioned for Philanthropy Leadership With an estimated $70 trillion in global wealth set to be transferred to Gen X and millennials in the coming decades, including $26 trillion across Asia and Africa alone, the UAE is uniquely positioned to shape the future of philanthropy. Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, captures this spirit of social investment beautifully: 'If you want people to innovate, you need to give them a sense of belonging.' H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, also reminds us: 'You cannot protect nature with funding alone – you must protect it by empowering those individuals that protect nature and whose very lives and livelihoods are intertwined with its fate.' Building the Bridges of Tomorrow What emerges from these conversations is a collective call to action: to build the philanthropic architecture our future demands. This includes not only more giving, but better giving – governed by data, powered by collaboration, and designed for scale. It means investing in the infrastructure of philanthropy itself: in research, regulation, convening platforms, and the talent pipelines needed to professionalise and sustain the field. It also means cultivating a culture of giving that is inclusive of youth, women, and communities at the margins – not as beneficiaries, but as co-creators. H.E. Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, offers a powerful metaphor: 'The role of a philanthropist is to be an unshakable bridge for people to cross over from problems to solutions.' This is our moment to shape a new legacy – one defined not by charity alone, but by bold, collaborative investments into the future of our communities and our planet. As the UAE continues to rise as a global hub for talent, opportunity and innovation, we have the opportunity to help define what strategic giving can look like in the 21st century: inclusive, entrepreneurial, and built to last.
Trade Arabia
05-06-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Nasdaq Dubai welcomes Mashreq's $500m sukuk listing
Nasdaq Dubai welcomed leading Dubai-based bank Mashreq debut listing on the exchange with the admission of a $500 million sukuk issued by Mashreq Al Islami Sukuk Company. The Trust Certificates, due in 2030, were issued under Mashreq's $2.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme and are being admitted as a secondary listing following strong demand in the primary market. This marks an important milestone for Mashreq as it expands its access to international capital markets and strengthens its presence in the Islamic finance space. It also reflects Nasdaq Dubai's continued role in connecting regional issuers with a global investor base through a well-regulated and diversified platform. Senior officials from Mashreq, including Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer; Joel Van Dusen, Group Head of Corporate & Investment Banking; and Salman Hadi, Group Head of Treasury & Global Markets, attended the market opening ceremony at Nasdaq Dubai to celebrate the listing. The bell was rung by Ahmed Abdelaal in the presence of Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM). On the debut sukuk, Mashreq Chairman Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair said: "This sukuk listing marks an important step in Mashreq's commitment to strengthening the global Islamic finance landscape. It is a clear demonstration of Mashreq's long-term commitment to Islamic finance, the deepening of cross-border capital flows, and the UAE's continued emergence as a global nexus for ethical and Sharia-compliant financing." "Through this programme, we are proud to reinforce investor trust and contribute meaningfully to the maturing of Islamic capital markets," he stated. Abdelaal said the debut listing on Nasdaq Dubai marks a new chapter in Mashreq's capital markets journey. "This sukuk issuance not only attracted strong investor interest, but also affirms our disciplined approach to funding, even in a complex macro environment. As we continue to diversify our capital structure through Sharia-compliant channels, we remain committed to delivering strong fundamentals, market transparency, and sustainable value for all stakeholders," he added. Welcoming the Mashreq listing, Ali said it reflects the bank's growing ambitions in the Islamic finance sector and underscores DFM's role as a leading marketplace that connects regional issuers with global investors. "As Dubai continues to strengthen its capital markets infrastructure, we at DFM remain committed to providing an efficient and transparent platform that supports diverse financing needs and promotes sustainable growth across the financial ecosystem," he stated. With this listing, the total value of sukuk listed on Nasdaq Dubai has reached $97.2 billion, further strengthening the exchange's position as one of the world's largest centres for Islamic fixed income. The overall value of debt securities listed on Nasdaq Dubai now stands at over $140 billion, across 163 issuances, said Ali.
bnok24
04-06-2025
- Business
- bnok24
Nasdaq Dubai Welcomes Mashreq's USD 500 Million Sukuk Listing
Nasdaq Dubai welcomed Mashreq's ('Mashreq' or 'the Bank') debut listing on the exchange with the admission of a USD 500 million Sukuk issued by Mashreq Al Islami Sukuk Company Ltd The Trust Certificates, due in 2030, were issued under Mashreq's USD 2.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme and are being admitted as a secondary listing following strong demand in the primary market This marks an important milestone for Mashreq as it expands its access to international capital markets and strengthens its presence in the Islamic finance space. It also reflects Nasdaq Dubai's continued role in connecting regional issuers with a global investor base through a well-regulated and diversified platform Senior officials from Mashreq, including Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer; Joel Van Dusen, Group Head of Corporate & Investment Banking; and Salman Hadi, Group Head of Treasury & Global Markets, attended the market opening ceremony at Nasdaq Dubai to celebrate the listing. The bell was rung by Ahmed Abdelaal in the presence of Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM) Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Mashreq, commented: 'This Sukuk listing marks an important step in Mashreq's commitment to strengthening the global Islamic finance landscape. It is a clear demonstration of Mashreq's long-term commitment to Islamic finance, the deepening of cross-border capital flows, and the UAE's continued emergence as a global nexus for ethical and Sharia-compliant financing. Through this programme, we are proud to reinforce investor trust and contribute meaningfully to the maturing of Islamic capital markets Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mashreq said: 'Our debut listing on Nasdaq Dubai marks a new chapter in Mashreq's capital markets journey. This Sukuk issuance not only attracted strong investor interest, but also affirms our disciplined approach to funding, even in a complex macro environment. As we continue to diversify our capital structure through Sharia-compliant channels, we remain committed to delivering strong fundamentals, market transparency, and sustainable value for all stakeholders Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM), said: 'This listing reflects Mashreq's growing ambitions in the Islamic finance sector and underscores our role as a leading marketplace that connects regional issuers with global investors. As Dubai continues to strengthen its capital markets infrastructure, we remain committed to providing an efficient and transparent platform that supports diverse financing needs and promotes sustainable growth across the financial ecosystem This landmark Sukuk issuance marked Mashreq's successful return to the international debt capital markets. It was also the first public issuance from the CEEMEA region since the announcement of U.S. tariffs in April 2025, which had triggered heightened volatility across global markets. The success of this transaction renewed market participants' confidence, and was followed by a string of issuances, thereby helping to reopen the market for regional issuers The transaction attracted significant investor interest, resulting in an orderbook of USD 2.9 billion, nearly six times oversubscribed. The final pricing was tightened to UST +105 basis points with a fixed profit rate of 5.03% per annum, reflecting the strength and quality of the orderbook and strong investor confidence in Mashreq's credit fundamentals. With broad participation from over 90 global investors across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, the issuance reaffirms Mashreq's leadership in Islamic finance and reinforces Dubai's growing stature as a global hub for Sharia-compliant capital markets With this listing, the total value of Sukuk listed on Nasdaq Dubai has reached USD 97.2 billion, further strengthening the exchange's position as one of the world's largest centres for Islamic fixed income. The overall value of debt securities listed on Nasdaq Dubai now stands at over USD 140 billion, across 163 issuances. These figures reflect the depth and maturity of the UAE's capital markets, as well as the growing appeal of Dubai as a gateway for regional and international investment Google News تابعونا على تابعونا على تطبيق نبض
Zawya
04-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nasdaq Dubai welcomes Mashreq's $500mln sukuk listing
The listing brings the total value of Sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai to USD 97.2 billion, reinforcing its status as a global centre for Islamic finance. Dubai: Nasdaq Dubai welcomed Mashreq's (''Mashreq'' or ''the Bank'') debut listing on the exchange with the admission of a USD 500 million Sukuk issued by Mashreq Al Islami Sukuk Company Ltd. The Trust Certificates, due in 2030, were issued under Mashreq's USD 2.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme and are being admitted as a secondary listing following strong demand in the primary market. This marks an important milestone for Mashreq as it expands its access to international capital markets and strengthens its presence in the Islamic finance space. It also reflects Nasdaq Dubai's continued role in connecting regional issuers with a global investor base through a well-regulated and diversified platform. Senior officials from Mashreq, including Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer; Joel Van Dusen, Group Head of Corporate & Investment Banking; and Salman Hadi, Group Head of Treasury & Global Markets, attended the market opening ceremony at Nasdaq Dubai to celebrate the listing. The bell was rung by Ahmed Abdelaal in the presence of Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM). Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Mashreq, commented: "This Sukuk listing marks an important step in Mashreq's commitment to strengthening the global Islamic finance landscape. It is a clear demonstration of Mashreq's long-term commitment to Islamic finance, the deepening of cross-border capital flows, and the UAE's continued emergence as a global nexus for ethical and Sharia-compliant financing. Through this programme, we are proud to reinforce investor trust and contribute meaningfully to the maturing of Islamic capital markets.' Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mashreq said: 'Our debut listing on Nasdaq Dubai marks a new chapter in Mashreq's capital markets journey. This Sukuk issuance not only attracted strong investor interest, but also affirms our disciplined approach to funding, even in a complex macro environment. As we continue to diversify our capital structure through Sharia-compliant channels, we remain committed to delivering strong fundamentals, market transparency, and sustainable value for all stakeholders.' Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM), said: 'This listing reflects Mashreq's growing ambitions in the Islamic finance sector and underscores our role as a leading marketplace that connects regional issuers with global investors. As Dubai continues to strengthen its capital markets infrastructure, we remain committed to providing an efficient and transparent platform that supports diverse financing needs and promotes sustainable growth across the financial ecosystem.' This landmark Sukuk issuance marked Mashreq's successful return to the international debt capital markets. It was also the first public issuance from the CEEMEA region since the announcement of U.S. tariffs in April 2025, which had triggered heightened volatility across global markets. The success of this transaction renewed market participants' confidence, and was followed by a string of issuances, thereby helping to reopen the market for regional issuers. The transaction attracted significant investor interest, resulting in an orderbook of USD 2.9 billion, nearly six times oversubscribed. The final pricing was tightened to UST +105 basis points with a fixed profit rate of 5.03% per annum, reflecting the strength and quality of the orderbook and strong investor confidence in Mashreq's credit fundamentals. With broad participation from over 90 global investors across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, the issuance reaffirms Mashreq's leadership in Islamic finance and reinforces Dubai's growing stature as a global hub for Sharia-compliant capital markets. With this listing, the total value of Sukuk listed on Nasdaq Dubai has reached USD 97.2 billion, further strengthening the exchange's position as one of the world's largest centres for Islamic fixed income. The overall value of debt securities listed on Nasdaq Dubai now stands at over USD 140 billion, across 163 issuances. These figures reflect the depth and maturity of the UAE's capital markets, as well as the growing appeal of Dubai as a gateway for regional and international investment. About Mashreq: Mashreq is more than half a century old, yet proudly thinks like a challenger, startup, and innovator. Mashreq has pioneered key innovations and developments in banking, starting with entry-level digital-first customers all the way to powering some of the region's most prominent corporations and wealth accounts. The bank's mandate is to help customers find their way to Rise Every Day, partnering through the highs and lows to help them achieve their goals and unlock their vision of success. Reassuringly present in major financial centres of the world, Mashreq's home and global HQ remains in the Middle East, offering services whenever and wherever opportunity takes its customers. Mashreq has been recognized as the fastest-growing Middle East brand, by Banking 500 rankings for 2024 by Brand Finance. Find your way to Rise Every Day at: About Nasdaq Dubai: Nasdaq Dubai is the international financial exchange serving the region between Western Europe and East Asia. It welcomes regional as well as global issuers that seek regional and international investment. The exchange currently lists shares, derivatives, Sukuk (Islamic bonds), conventional bonds and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS). The majority shareholder of Nasdaq Dubai is Dubai Financial Market with a two-thirds stake. Borse Dubai owns one third of the shares. The regulator of Nasdaq Dubai is the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). For further information, please contact: Noora Al Soori Communications and Public Relations Dubai Financial Market E: nalsoori@ Shruti Choudhury Associate Director Edelman Smithfield E: dfmedelmansmithfield@
Tahya Masr
01-05-2025
- Business
- Tahya Masr
Mashreq generated over AED 3.1 billion in operating income, supported by double-digit growth of balance sheet
Mashreq Bank PSC (MASQ) reported its financial results for Q1 2025. Mashreq continues to deliver market-leading returns, supported by best-in-class asset quality and a robust capital structure. The bank's first quarter of 2025 results underscores the strength and resilience of Mashreq's diversified business model, even in a softer interest rate environment. Revenues Mashreq delivered AED 3.1 billion in operating income, reflecting its resilience and strategic focus, as the Bank continued to seize market opportunities and drive performance. • Mashreq's client asset growth combined with healthy client margins helped cushion the impact of the 100bps reduction in the UAE Central Bank's benchmark interest rate, limiting year-on-year Net Interest Margin (NIM) compression to just 62bps and remaining a strong NIM at 3.3%. • Non-interest income increased by 16% year-on-year, underscoring the effectiveness of the bank's strategy to diversify revenue streams beyond traditional interest-based income, reducing total revenue exposure to interest rate fluctuations. Net Profit Mashreq delivered a solid quarterly Profit Before Tax of AED 2.1 billion, driven by strong balance sheet growth, including a 14% year-on-year increase in loans and advances and a 10% year-on-year rise in customer deposits, double digit growth in non-interest income, controlled expense growth and relative low risk costs. Return on Equity (ROE) of 21% reflects strong profitability and effective capital deployment, underscoring the banks disciplined execution of its growth and digital strategies and underlying its financial strength. Expenses Ongoing strategic investments in digital transformation and international expansion led to marginal increase in operating expenses. Operating expenses increased by 9.5% year-on-year while Cost-to-Income Ratio stood at 29% compared to 27% in Q1 2024 and 30%(1) in full-year 2024. H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair. Chairman, Mashreq said: 'The beginning of 2025 marks another strong chapter in Mashreq's journey of innovation, resilience and regional leadership. As the UAE and the broader GCC region continue to accelerate their digital and economic transformation, Mashreq remains deeply aligned with these national priorities. We are expanding our reach, advancing our capabilities and enabling inclusive growth across markets'. Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mashreq said, 'Mashreq entered 2025 with strong momentum, delivering over AED 3 billion of operating income in the first quarter and achieving 14 percent year-on-year growth in loans and advances. These results reflect the continued strength of our diversified business model and our disciplined execution, even amid a more measured interest rate environment. We advanced several strategic priorities during the quarter, including the launch of Mashreq Oman and the successful pilot of digital retail banking in Pakistan. We also continued to strengthen our presence across key markets in MENA and Egypt, aligning our expansion strategy with client demand for more connected, innovative banking solutions'. Mashreq delivered a solid and stable performance in Q1 2025, reflecting the strength of its diversified business model and disciplined execution. The Bank remains focused on driving forward its strategic priorities for 2025 — with innovation, regional growth, and an enhanced client experience at the core. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking approach, Mashreq is accelerating its ambition to be a digital banking leader in the region. The continued rollout of its Banking-as-a-Service strategy is reshaping how financial services are delivered — creating scalable, seamless solutions that meet the evolving needs of clients across markets .
