UAE to Hold Second Auction of Dirham T-Bonds Worth $408Mln

The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions. (WAM)
The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions. (WAM)
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UAE to Hold Second Auction of Dirham T-Bonds Worth $408Mln

The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions. (WAM)
The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions. (WAM)

The UAE Finance Ministry said Saturday that a second auction of federal treasury bonds (T-Bonds) would be held on June 20.

The auction size will be AED1.5 billion ($408 million) distributed over two tranches: a two-year tranche valued at AED 750 million and a three-year tranche valued at AED750 million ($204 million).

It explained that the re-opening of bonds will be exercised in this auction to increase the volume of individual bonds issued with the aim of improving liquidity in the secondary market.

The first auction of the AED denominated T-Bonds program witnessed a wide turnout from local and international investors, with a total issuance of AED1.5 billion ($408.3 million) divided into two tranches - of two and three years – and a uniform coupon rate fixed at 3.01% and 3.24%, respectively.

The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions.

The conventional T-bonds will be denominated in UAE dirhams to develop the local bonds debt market.

It aims to develop the mid-term yield curve, with tranches of two and three years, and in principle of five years as well, while 10-year tranches will be issued at a later time.

The auction, represented by the Ministry of Finance as the issuer, in collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) as the issuing and payment agent, is part of the AED9 billion ($2.4 billion) T-Bonds issuance program for 2022, the ministry announced in May.

The first auction of the dirham denominated UAE T-Bonds, with a benchmark auction size of AED1.5 billion ($400 million), drew bids worth AED9.4 billion ($2.5 billion), an oversubscription of 6.3 times.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, said then that the success of the first auction is part of strengthening the UAE’s economic competitiveness and supporting the sustainability of economic growth.



Saudi Arabia, Canada Discuss Smart Industrial Cities

The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA
The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Canada Discuss Smart Industrial Cities

The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA
The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has discussed with Canadian government ministers ways to bolster industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries, opportunities for developing industrial innovation, and building an effective partnership to establish smart industrial cities in the Kingdom by leveraging Canadian expertise.

During his meeting with Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne, and accompanied by National Industrial Development Center Chief Executive Saleh AlSulami, Alkhorayef underscored the Kingdom's commitment to benefiting from the applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, to develop the industrial sector and create added value, while improving production efficiency in industrial facilities.

Meeting participants discussed enhancing cooperation in the field of industrial digitization, utilizing AI technologies to improve industrial processes, and exploring opportunities for collaboration in building smart industrial cities in the Kingdom, benefiting from Canadian advancements in digital infrastructure.

The two sides also discussed collaboration between the Kingdom and Canada in the field of innovation, including the partnership between the Saudi Ministry of Education and Metax, a Canadian research organization funded by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry with a focus on providing joint research opportunities for graduate and doctoral students in both countries.

During a meeting with Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen, Alkhorayef discussed ways to enhance economic relations and non-oil trade between the two countries, given the fact that the Kingdom is the largest trading partner for Canada in the Middle East and North Africa. The ministers reviewed the role of industrial development globally in advancing communities, increasing their well-being, and improving individuals' living standards.

Alkhorayef and Canada's Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MIHR) executive director Ryan Montpellier discussed opportunities to benefit from council's expertise in workforce human capabilities development strategies in the mining sector.

The meetings held by the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are part of his visit to Canada, aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries, exploring mutual opportunities in both sectors, and attracting foreign investments to the Kingdom.