DP World has launched a $100 million Blue Bond to fund sustainable initiatives in marine transportation, port infrastructure, marine pollution mitigation and nature and water-positive projects.
The issuance marks the first corporate Blue Bond from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the broader Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa (CEEMENA) region, positioning DP World as a leader in promoting a sustainable blue economy.
The Blue Bond aligns with DP World’s Ocean, Decarbonisation, and Water Strategy, aiming to advance global climate action under the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The Ocean Strategy focuses on linking trade with environmental stewardship, removing barriers to ocean-related climate action, and supporting biodiversity and sustainable resource use.
“This Blue Bond reflects our ambition to lead the logistics industry toward a sustainable blue economy and address critical challenges such as ocean pollution and water scarcity,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World. “It lays the foundation for comprehensive climate and ocean action for the future.”
The eligible projects under the Blue Bond portfolio include:
- Sustainable marine transportation: Investing in alternative fuels and technologies to reduce emissions and marine pollution.
- Sustainable ports development: Funding infrastructure upgrades to minimize noise, air pollution, and other environmental impacts.
- Marine ecosystem conservation: Expanding projects to conserve and restore marine biodiversity using nature-based solutions.
- Marine pollution reduction: Tackling waste, improving water quality, and ensuring equitable access to clean water.
The bond issuance follows DP World’s updated Sustainable Finance Framework, which aligns with international guidelines such as the International Finance Corporation’s Blue Finance standards and the Bonds to Finance the Sustainable Blue Economy Practitioner’s Guide.
The bond’s spread of 99.6 basis points above US Treasuries represents DP World’s tightest pricing in the bond or sukuk market, underscoring strong investor interest.
Earlier this year, DP World allocated $1.17 billion of the $1.5 billion raised through its Green Sukuk to eligible green projects. These projects have contributed to avoiding over 177 million kilograms of CO2 emissions, saving 466,057 MJ of energy, and generating 866,686 kWh of renewable energy.
