The UAE Ministry of Finance announced on 17 September 2026 a second round of its Sovereign Retail T-Sukuk Programme. It is a five-year, Shariah-compliant sukuk backed by the UAE Government, and individuals can subscribe from AED 1,000. Both nationals and residents are eligible. The ministry presents the programme as a way to build long-term saving habits.
The first round explains the follow-up. Orders reached AED 445 million, almost nine times the AED 50 million target, and the ministry raised the issue size to AED 100 million. Small investors led the demand: 76% was for AED 10,000 or less, and UAE nationals made up 72% of subscribers. Women and investors under 25, taken together, accounted for 45% of subscribers. The ministry does not report the two groups separately, so the figure shows their combined weight rather than women’s share alone.
Minister of State for Financial Affairs Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini called the programme “an advanced strategic step towards empowering all segments of society.” In practical terms, it lets individuals hold sovereign debt directly, an asset class that has mostly been the domain of institutions.
Subscriptions run through digital channels: Dubai Financial Market’s eIPO platform, the iVestor and DFM apps, and participating banks’ platforms. After allocation and settlement, the sukuk will list on Nasdaq Dubai, which gives holders a route to trade it.
For women, the significance goes beyond the headline share. A government-backed product with a low minimum is a practical first step into fixed income, offering hands-on experience of regulated markets without needing a large portfolio. The test will be whether that participation carries over into longer-term holding and further investing.
The profit rate for the new issuance will be announced on September 22, so the pricing is the next thing to watch. The first round had a two-year tenor and paid an annual profit rate of 4.30%, distributed every six months.
Source: UAE Ministry of Finance announcement, 17 September 2026.
