Abu Dhabi, 15 October 2026: First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE's global bank and one of the world's largest and safest financial institutions, has successfully issued and settled AED 1 billion 3-year Digitally Native Green Notes, becoming the first digital green bond from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The landmark issuance brings together sustainable finance and digital capital markets infrastructure, reinforcing FAB’s commitment to financial innovation and its role in shaping the future of the region’s capital markets.
The notes were priced on 13 October 2026 at an interest rate of 5.75% and settled today through Euroclear’s Digital Financial Market Infrastructure (D-FMI). They will mature on 15 October 2029. In line with FAB’s ongoing commitment to sustainable finance, the proceeds from the issuance will support projects with positive environmental or climate-related benefits.
Euroclear’s D-FMI uses distributed ledger technology to facilitate the issuance, distribution and settlement of digitally native securities. Its connectivity with established secondary market services enables issuers and investors to benefit from digital innovation while maintaining access to familiar market infrastructure.
The transaction also builds on FAB’s track record in digital capital markets and will mark its second digital bond listing on ADX, following its inaugural digital bond issuance in 2025. FAB remains the only issuer with digital bonds listed on ADX.
Lars Kramer, Group Chief Financial Officer at First Abu Dhabi Bank, said: “The future of finance must be both sustainable and innovative. With MENA’s first digitally native green bond, FAB is bringing these priorities together and setting a new benchmark for the region’s capital markets. Building on our inaugural digital bond in 2025, we are demonstrating how digital infrastructure can advance sustainable finance through greater automation and more efficient execution. This reflects our commitment to developing financing solutions that support the transition to a low-carbon economy and reinforce the UAE’s leadership in financial innovation.”
The issuance also builds on FAB’s broader sustainable and transition finance commitment. As of H1 2026, the bank had facilitated AED 395 billion in sustainable and transition financing, achieving 79% of its AED 500 billion target for 2030.
First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Digitally Native Notes Structurers. Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, HSBC Bank plc, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Joint Lead Managers. Citibank N.A., London Branch acted as Fiscal Agent and Digitally Native Notes Agent. Dentons & Co. acted as legal counsel to the issuer, while Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP acted as legal counsel to the Joint Lead Managers.