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 Capital advises on the AED 1.45 billion sale of National Taxi to Dubai Taxi Company

2 Min | 15 May 2026

Largest mobility M&A transaction in the GCC in the last three years
Fourth mobility transaction executed by Emirates NBD Capital following landmark roles on the IPOs of Salik, Dubai Taxi Company and Parkin
Emirates NBD Capital acted as sell-side financial advisor, leading a competitive international process across multiple investor groups

Dubai, UAE, 15 May 2026: Emirates NBD Capital, the investment banking arm of Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has advised the shareholders of the UAE-based taxi operator, National Taxi, on its AED 1.45 billion sale to Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), marking the largest mobility M&A transaction in the GCC in the last three years.

The transaction is expected to support DTC’s geographic expansion, strengthening its leadership position in Dubai while establishing a meaningful presence in Abu Dhabi to unlock further growth opportunities. The acquisition reinforces DTC’s ambition to build a scaled, multi-emirate platform capable of capturing long-term value in urban mobility across the UAE.

Emirates NBD Capital acted as the sell-side financial advisor to National Taxi and managed the transaction process end-to-end, supporting a tailored international investor outreach programme targeting strategic and financial investors across Asia, Europe, Africa and North America.

The 12-month, two-stage auction process attracted strong investor interest and resulted in bids from multiple market participants, delivering optimal outcomes for the selling shareholders. Following a highly competitive process, DTC was selected as the preferred bidder, offering the most compelling overall terms and enabling a full market exit. The transaction involved a corporate restructuring exercise and coordination across a multi-layered regulated environment, including engagement with relevant authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Hitesh Asarpota, CEO of Emirates NBD Capital, said: "We recognise that the sale of a leading business is a significant decision for shareholders, and we appreciate the trust placed in us by National Taxi in advising on this transaction. The level of interest from investors across multiple geographies reflects the strength of its organisation and the continued international demand for UAE assets. We are pleased to have supported the shareholders of National Taxi in achieving a successful outcome through a disciplined process executed in dynamic market conditions.”

Emirates NBD Capital’s investor engagement featured a structured acquisition financing package, which was ultimately fully utilised by the buyer, DTC, demonstrating Emirates NBD’s willingness to leverage its balance sheet to support clients. The transaction further reinforces Emirates NBD Capital’s position as a trusted advisor to UAE-owned and operated businesses, supported by its international investor reach and regional expertise.

Toufic Mitri, Managing Director of National Taxi, said: “National Taxi has been a prominent taxi operator in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for 26 years. Throughout the past two decades, the company has consistently experienced steady growth, adopted new technologies and received multiple accolades. This transaction marks an important milestone for National Taxi, DTC and the UAE mobility sector. We are pleased to have worked alongside our partner Emirates NBD Capital on this landmark transaction who provided vital end-to-end support to de-risk the transaction and maximise outcomes for our shareholders.”

The acquisition represents the largest mobility M&A transaction in the GCC in the last three years, and the fourth mobility transaction executed by Emirates NBD Capital following landmark roles on the IPOs of Salik, Dubai Taxi Company and Parkin.