The 50-year tranche is the longest term for a bond issued by a GCC sovereign issuer, which underscores Abu Dhabi’s robust credit fundamentals and the investors’ trust in the emirate’s future economic prospects.
As the only AA-rated sovereign issuer by all three rating agencies in the GCC region, Abu Dhabi’s proactive medium-term debt management strategy optimizes the capital structure of the emirate and taps into diverse funding sources, while maintaining the current credit ratings.
The bond issuance was 4.8 times oversubscribed (at peak order book), with orders coming from over 60 new accounts and an order book that peaked at USD 24 billion.
The 50-year bonds were particularly well received by international investors, who accounted for 95% of the final geographical allocation, showcasing trust in Abu Dhabi’s ability to deliver sustained, long-term economic growth.
Jassem Mohammed Buatabh Al Zaabi Chairman Abu Dhabi Department of Finance
“The success of this bond issuance, in the midst of the COVID-19 global crisis, demonstrates the robust credit fundamentals and more broadly the strength of Abu Dhabi’s economy. The 50-year tranche is a first for not just Abu Dhabi but also for the GCC, and a reflection of formidable investor confidence in our economy, credit strength and long-term outlook.”
He continued: “Abu Dhabi has proven its resilience throughout a global challenging economic period. As the UAE prepares for the next 50 years, through its ‘2020: Towards the next 50’ initiative, we are committed to supporting the wise leadership’s national strategy by instilling a culture of fiscal sustainability.”
The proceeds of the bond issuance will allow Abu Dhabi to focus on sustaining pronounced non-hydrocarbon sector expansion as the emirate continues to diversify its sources of funding and optimize the deployment of government resources to provide continued and sustainable growth.
The tranches achieved unprecedented pricing at 0.83% for 3-year bonds, 1.732% for 10-year bonds, and at 2.7% the 50-year notes.
First Abu Dhabi Bank, Morgan Stanley, Citi, Deutsche Bank, and Standard Chartered were Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners.
