Doha, December 17 (QNA) - Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) announced Wednesday the listing of Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) Sukuk on the Sukuk and Debt Instruments Market, marking a landmark milestone as the first Islamic Sukuk to be listed on the Exchange.

This achievement reflects the continued development of Qatar's capital market ecosystem and the ongoing efforts to diversify the range of investment instruments available to local and international investors.

The Sukuk issuance amounts to QAR 500 million, offering an annual return of 4.40% with a three-year maturity, representing a significant addition to Qatar's Islamic finance market and contributing to greater market depth and diversification of Shariah-compliant instruments.

The bell-ringing ceremony took place at QSE headquarters, in the presence of HE Chairman of QIIB, Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al-Thani, Chief Executive Officer of QSE, Abdullah Mohammed Al Ansari, and Chief Executive Officer of Qatar QIIB, Dr. Abdulbasit Ahmed Al Shaibei.

Al Ansari welcomed the listing of the first Islamic Sukuk on QSE, noting that this step enables issuers to introduce innovative Shariah-compliant financing products, enhances investor confidence, and reinforces Qatar's position as a regional hub for Shariah-compliant investment.

He added that it helps meet the preferences of investors seeking Islamic investment solutions backed by real underlying assets, emphasizing this listing is directly aligned with the Third Financial Sector Strategy, particularly in expanding the range of investment products available in the market and in deepening Qatar's capital market, increasing its maturity, and accommodating diversified investment instruments that meet the varying needs of investors.

HE Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al-Thani said: "We are pleased to celebrate the listing of QIIB Sukuk on Qatar Stock Exchange, a significant milestone in the Bank's journey to strengthen its presence in local and international financial markets".

  He affirmed that this listing comes at a time when Qatar's economy continues to demonstrate advanced performance and an esteemed standing that attracts investors globally, reflecting strong confidence in the national economy and financial institutions.

He added: "The listing provides local and regional investors with access to high-quality financial instruments, enhances liquidity, and deepens Qatar's financial market. This step is aligned with QIIB's strategy to diversify its activities and further strengthen its financial position locally and internationally".

Sheikh Dr. Khalid highlighted that QIIB has achieved accelerated growth and significant performance improvements in recent years, supported by technological advancement, digital transformation, and strong credit ratings, maintaining an'A2' rating from Moody's and an 'A' rating from Fitch, both with stable outlooks, reflecting the Bank's financial strength and management effectiveness.

The listing of QIIB Sukuk represents an important milestone for Qatar's debt capital market, as it expands the Bank's financing options, enables access to a broader investor base, enhances financial flexibility, supports diversification of funding sources, and strengthens the Bank's financial stability and competitiveness in local and regional banking markets.

Dr. Abdulbasit Ahmed Al Shaibei noted: "The listing of QIIB Sukuk on Qatar Stock Exchange represents a historic and strategic step, reflecting our long-term vision to deepen our presence in capital markets and expand financing options through diversified instruments that meet the expectations of a broad investor base".

He added: "Over recent years, strong demand for QIIB Sukuk in international markets, particularly on the London Stock Exchange, underlines the importance of listing on Qatar Stock Exchange.

 This decision strengthens the depth of Qatar's financial market, enables local investors and institutions to access instruments previously listed abroad, diversifies funding sources, expands the investor base, and aligns with Qatar Central Bank's objectives to develop capital markets in support of Qatar National Vision 2030".

  This milestone is the result of integrated efforts across Qatar's capital market ecosystem, with close coordination among stakeholders to ensure the listing process was executed smoothly and efficiently, in line with international best practices and standards.

This collaborative approach reflects a continued commitment to developing market infrastructure, strengthening the regulatory and operational framework, and supporting investment diversification, positioning QSE as an attractive platform for both local and international investors. (QNA)