The Ministry of Finance has announced the launch of the “Individual Sukuk” initiative, allowing individual investors to invest in government treasury bonds that conform to Islamic law (Sukuk) through the digital channels of participating banks within the country. This strategic move aims to enhance financial inclusion and expand the investor base in government financial instruments by enabling citizens and residents to invest easily and securely, aligning with Islamic principles. Investment amounts can start from just 4,000 Dirhams.
This initiative is in line with the wise leadership’s directives to empower the community economically, in accordance with the “Community Year 2025” objectives, which foster values of solidarity and enhance the well-being of individuals and families, enabling society to contribute to building a more sustainable future.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, stated: “The ‘Individual Sukuk’ initiative embodies the vision of the UAE and the directives of its wise leadership to empower the community and enhance participation in the national development journey through financial policies prioritizing human well-being. The launch of this initiative under the Community Year 2025 opens new horizons for citizens and residents to take part in shaping the future through safe and government-backed investment tools.”
He added: “The Ministry of Finance aims to transform investment in government Sukuk into a streamlined and inclusive digital experience, allowing all segments of society to access high-quality financial instruments that were previously available only to institutional investors. This represents a strategic step towards establishing financial inclusion and fostering a long-term savings culture, ensuring the sustainability of the nation’s financial resources and supporting developmental goals across various sectors.”
Transformative Shift
His Excellency Mohammed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, remarked: “The ‘Individual Sukuk’ initiative signifies a transformative shift in the development of government investment tools, enhancing individual participation in economic growth and providing direct opportunities for contribution to national development. This initiative is a practical manifestation of the Ministry of Finance’s vision to create an innovative financial environment that offers secure and sustainable investment solutions beneficial to the entire community.”
He further commented: “The initiative aligns with the goals of Community Year 2025, as it promotes a culture of responsible saving and raises financial awareness among various groups in society. It also reflects the spirit of partnership between the public and private sectors in reinforcing values of giving and effective economic participation, contributing to building a balanced and sustainable economy that meets future aspirations.”
Raising Investment Awareness
The Ministry of Finance stated that the initiative aims to increase awareness of investment opportunities in individual Sukuk among citizens and residents, encouraging broader participation from individual investors and building trust through highlighting the ease of registration and full compliance with Sharia standards. It also seeks to stimulate long-term investment in UAE treasury bonds as a secure and sustainable savings tool.
The ministry noted that Islamic-compliant government Sukuk, previously available only to institutional investors, are now accessible to all citizens and residents. This marks a significant achievement in broadening access to government-backed Islamic financial instruments.
Furthermore, the ministry stated that individual Sukuk will be offered in Emirati Dirhams and will be linked to government treasury bonds traded in the market, which were previously designated for institutional investors. This allows individual investors to benefit from the same high-quality and guaranteed assets that were once available only to large investors. The initiative will be activated through national banks, and investment in treasury Sukuk for individuals will be announced with the first participating bank on November 3, 2025.
This initiative presents a valuable opportunity for saving and diversifying investments, enabling individual investors to add a stable, government-supported financial tool to their current investment portfolios.