What is Emirates NBD Group’s USD 2.25 billion financing deal announced in 2026?

Emirates NBD Group successfully closed USD 2.25 billion in long-term financing, comprising a USD 1.75 billion five-year sustainability-linked syndicated term loan arranged by Emirates NBD and a USD 500 million five-year Club Commodity Murabaha term facility arranged by Emirates Islamic. Together, the facilities represent one of the largest syndicated borrowings in the GCC region.

How was Emirates NBD’s USD 1.75 billion sustainability-linked syndicated loan structured?

The sustainability-linked loan was structured as a five-year syndicated term facility aligned to sustainability performance metrics. Initially launched at USD 1 billion, strong international demand resulted in oversubscription of more than two times, allowing the facility size to be increased to USD 1.75 billion.

Why was Emirates NBD’s sustainability-linked loan oversubscribed by global investors?

The oversubscription reflects strong global investor confidence in Emirates NBD’s credit strength, supported by its solid balance sheet, disciplined financial management, and established track record in accessing international capital markets.

What are the key benefits of this long-term USD financing for Emirates NBD Group?

The transaction strengthens the Group’s liquidity position, diversifies its funding sources, enhances its long-term USD funding profile, and supports the execution of Emirates NBD Group’s strategic growth ambitions while enhancing shareholder value.

How does the USD 1.75 billion sustainability-linked loan support Emirates NBD’s strategy?

The facility supports Emirates NBD’s strategy by providing long-tenor USD funding at competitive pricing, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to sustainable finance and enabling continued investment in long-term growth priorities.

What does the oversubscription of Emirates NBD’s syndicated loan indicate about its credit profile?

The strong oversubscription indicates high levels of international lender confidence in Emirates NBD’s credit quality, resilience, and future prospects despite a challenging regional and global environment.

How did Emirates NBD achieve tight pricing despite volatile market conditions?

Despite global and regional market challenges, the sustainability-linked loan achieved the tightest pricing in Emirates NBD’s history for a syndicated loan, reflecting strong lender appetite, effective execution, and the Group’s standing as a preferred counterparty.

Why do international banks participate in Emirates NBD’s syndicated financings?

International banks participate due to Emirates NBD’s strong balance sheet, transparent governance, and the UAE’s robust regulatory framework, all of which underpin confidence in the Group as a long-term partner.

Is this one of the largest syndicated loan transactions in the GCC banking sector in 2026?

Yes. The combined USD 2.25 billion financing represents one of the largest syndicated borrowings in the GCC region in 2026.

How does this transaction reflect the UAE’s financial sector resilience?

The strong participation from 15 financial institutions across the Americas, Europe, and Asia highlights continued confidence in the UAE’s economic resilience, regulatory environment, and its banking sector’s access to global liquidity.

How does Emirates NBD compare to other regional banks in accessing international capital markets?

The transaction reinforces Emirates NBD’s established presence in international loan markets and demonstrates its ability to consistently access diversified global funding sources at competitive terms.

What is a Club Commodity Murabaha facility?

A Club Commodity Murabaha facility is a Shariah-compliant financing structure commonly used in Islamic banking, where funds are provided through commodity-based transactions in accordance with Islamic principles.

How did Emirates Islamic structure its USD 500 million Club Commodity Murabaha facility?

Emirates Islamic arranged a USD 500 million five-year Club Commodity Murabaha term facility, achieving highly competitive pricing among regional Islamic peers and completing the transaction within an accelerated timeframe.

How does Emirates NBD Group integrate conventional and Shariah-compliant financing?

Through its dual-banking model, Emirates NBD Group combines conventional financing solutions with Shariah-compliant structures via Emirates Islamic, enabling it to serve a broad range of institutional and investor needs.

Why is Emirates NBD Group considered a leader in Shariah-compliant sustainable finance?

The Group has a strong track record in integrating sustainability with Islamic finance, including Emirates Islamic’s issuance of the world’s first sustainability-linked financing sukuk in 2025 and continued leadership in Shariah-compliant funding solutions.

What is a sustainability-linked loan?

A sustainability-linked loan is a financing structure where pricing or terms are linked to the borrower’s achievement of predefined sustainability performance targets, aligning financing with ESG objectives.

How does sustainability-linked financing support long-term banking strategies?

Sustainability-linked financing aligns funding strategies with ESG commitments, supports responsible growth, and strengthens engagement with global lenders increasingly focused on sustainable finance frameworks.

How is Emirates NBD embedding sustainability into its capital markets activity?

Emirates NBD integrates sustainability considerations across its financing activities, supported by its leadership in sustainability reporting, sustainable finance structures, and ESG-aligned funding instruments.

How many financial institutions participated in the transaction?

The combined transaction attracted participation from 15 financial institutions across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Which institutions acted as coordinators on the transaction?

Bank of America, BNP Paribas, DBS Bank Limited, and Emirates NBD Capital Limited acted as Coordinators, Book-Runners, and Sustainability Coordinators on the Emirates NBD transaction. Emirates NBD Capital Limited acted as sole coordinator for the Emirates Islamic transaction.

Why is this transaction strategically important for Emirates NBD Group?

The financing reinforces Emirates NBD Group’s leadership in global and regional loan markets, strengthens liquidity and funding diversification, and supports the Group’s long-term strategic growth objectives.

Emirates NBD and RBL Bank announce the Successful Completion of the Landmark Strategic Investment

4 Min | 18 June 2026

Mumbai and Dubai, 18 June 2026: Emirates NBD Bank (P.J.S.C.) (“Emirates NBD”) and RBL Bank Limited (“RBL Bank”) today announced the successful completion of Emirates NBD’s acquisition of a majority stake in RBL Bank through a primary infusion of approximately USD 2.75 billion (~INR 260 billion). The transaction, originally announced on 18 October 2025, has now concluded following receipt of all requisite approvals and satisfaction of closing conditions.

The transaction underscores Emirates NBD’s long-term commitment to the Indian market and represents a landmark development in the Indian financial services sector driven by RBL Bank’s strong platform providing opportunity to leverage on India’s growth story. It constitutes the largest foreign direct investment in the Indian banking sector, the largest equity fund raise in the Indian banking sector, one of the largest fund raises through preferential issuance by a listed company in India, and marks the first acquisition of a majority interest in a profitable Indian bank by a foreign bank.

The investment has been completed through a preferential issue of shares, resulting in Emirates NBD acquiring a majority stake in RBL Bank. In connection with the transaction, Emirates NBD also completed a mandatory open offer to the public shareholders of RBL Bank in accordance with applicable regulations. Following the completion of the transaction, Emirates NBD holds 60% of the expanded share capital of RBL Bank.

The transaction reflects the strength and strategic value of the RBL Bank franchise that has been built over decades. Emirates NBD’s investment follows its conviction in RBL Bank’s management capabilities, customer relationships, operating platform and long-term growth potential. The partnership is intended to build upon these existing strengths while supporting the Bank’s next phase of expansion.

This strategic partnership brings together Emirates NBD’s strong regional banking expertise and network with RBL Bank’s established presence offering universal banking products & services and extensive distribution network across India. The capital infusion is expected to strengthen RBL Bank’s balance sheet, enhance its capital adequacy and support its long-term growth strategy.

Emirates NBD and RBL Bank wish to express their sincere gratitude to the shareholders of RBL Bank, Government of India, the Reserve Bank of India, the Competition Commission of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India and the Central Bank of United Arab Emirates, Board of Directors of Emirates NBD and RBL Bank, whose approvals and support were instrumental in enabling this landmark transaction. Emirates NBD and RBL Bank wish to also express their sincere appreciation towards all other relevant regulatory authorities for their cooperation and assistance.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates NBD, said: “The successful completion of this landmark transaction reflects the strength of the strategic partnership between the UAE and India, built on decades of cooperation, mutual trust and shared economic ambitions. It also underscores the commitment of both nations’ leadership to strengthening trade, investment and financial ties. Through our partnership with RBL Bank, Emirates NBD is proud to support this vision and further reinforce its role as a trusted financial bridge between the UAE and India.”

Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Emirates NBD, said: “This transaction marks a significant milestone for Emirates NBD and reinforces our long-term commitment to India. As one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, India represents a key pillar of our international strategy. Through our partnership with RBL Bank, we are well-positioned to deepen cross-border connectivity and support trade, investment and financial flows between India and the wider region.”

Shayne Nelson, Group CEO of Emirates NBD, said: “Our investment in RBL Bank creates a compelling platform that combines a strong domestic franchise with Emirates NBD’s regional reach and financial expertise. This partnership enhances our ability to serve customers across markets, while enabling us to drive growth across corporate, retail and digital banking segments. We look forward to working closely with the RBL Bank team to unlock the full potential of this collaboration.”

Chandan Sinha, Chairman of RBL Bank, said: “This partnership represents a defining moment in RBL Bank’s evolution. The entry of Emirates NBD as our strategic shareholder reflects strong global confidence in our franchise and the broader Indian banking sector. Together, we are well placed to further strengthen our governance, enhance our capabilities and build a resilient, future-ready institution.”

R Subramaniakumar, Managing Director & CEO of RBL Bank, said: “We are delighted to welcome Emirates NBD as our strategic partner. This transaction significantly strengthens RBL Bank’s franchise, combining its deep understanding of the Indian market built over years to create a strong foundation for scalable and sustainable growth. We remain focused on expanding our customer franchise, enhancing our product offerings and driving operational excellence, while leveraging the strengths of our new partnership.”