Emirates NBD has been recognised as a leading force in regional capital markets after winning two prestigious honours at the 2025 International Financing Review (IFR) Middle East Awards. The bank secured the titles of Middle East Equity House of the Year and Middle East Equity Issue of the Year, underscoring its pivotal role in shaping equity markets across the UAE and the wider Middle East.
The Equity Issue of the Year award was presented for du’s Dh3.15 billion follow-on offering, a landmark transaction in which Emirates NBD acted as a joint global coordinator. IFR highlighted the deal as a defining moment for the region, noting that it was the UAE’s first fully marketed secondary offering and the largest secondary selldown ever completed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). The transaction set new benchmarks for transparency, execution quality, and investor participation, reflecting the bank’s ability to manage complex and high-profile equity offerings.
The Middle East Equity House of the Year award recognises Emirates NBD’s sustained leadership and consistent performance throughout 2025. During the year, the bank played a central role in nearly all major equity transactions in the UAE, acting as a joint global coordinator on all UAE initial public offerings across both DFM and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). These included milestone listings such as Alpha Data, the first family-owned company to list on ADX; Dubai Residential, the first REIT to list under the UAE’s new regulatory framework; and Alec Holding, the largest IPO in the UAE’s construction sector.
Beyond domestic markets, Emirates NBD continued to expand its regional footprint, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The bank supported major transactions such as the Flynas IPO and ACWA Power’s $1.9 billion rights issue, facilitating cross-border capital flows and strengthening investor confidence in regional markets.
Commenting on the achievement, Hitesh Asarpota, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates NBD Capital, said the awards reflect the bank’s commitment to developing trusted, innovative, and resilient equity markets. He emphasised the bank’s focus on delivering diversified offerings, executing complex deals, and supporting long-term economic growth as capital markets in the region continue to mature.
Overall, these IFR awards reaffirm Emirates NBD’s position as a market leader, highlighting its strategic vision, execution excellence, and growing influence in advancing the Middle East’s equity capital markets.
