RIYADH: Saudi Arabia led the Gulf region’s primary debt market in the first half of 2025, raising $47.93 billion through 71 bond and sukuk issuances, a new analysis showed.
According to a report from Kuwait Financial Center, also known as Markaz, the Kingdom accounted for 52.1 percent of the total Gulf Cooperation Council issuances during the period, cementing its position as the region’s dominant fixed income market.
However, the volume marked a 19.8 percent year-on-year decline from $59.73 billion in the first half of 2024.
Overall, GCC primary debt issuances totaled $92.04 billion during the period, down 5.5 percent from a year earlier.
Affirming the expansion of the region’s debt market, Fitch Ratings noted in December that total outstanding debt in the GCC surpassed the $1 trillion mark.
