Dubai, 17 December 2025 – Dubai-based Emirates NBD Bank has launched a US$700 million, seven-year bullet term loan to lenders across Asia, marking a strategic cross-border funding move as regional banks diversify their funding sources.
The transaction is priced at 100 basis points over term SOFR and includes a US$200 million accordion option, allowing the borrower to increase the facility subject to lender approval.
Mizuho Bank is acting as lead coordinator, mandated lead arranger, and underwriter for the transaction.
Eastward Bound: Why Gulf Banks Are Tapping Asia’s Capital Markets
The geopolitical and financial dynamics that long underpinned east-to-west capital flows are now shifting.
Gulf banks are increasingly looking east, to markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taipei, as strategic alternatives for capital raising. Private placements, Formosa bonds, and growing interest in Panda bonds are opening new channels to access Asian capital markets.
Asian banks continue to manage substantial liquidity pools and remain willing to deploy U.S. dollar funding to high-grade Gulf borrowers.
The seven-year bullet maturity, in which principal is repaid at the end of the term, is relatively uncommon in the Asian loan market, which typically favours shorter tenors and amortising structures, highlighting strong lender confidence in the credit.
Confidence Boost for Emirates NBD
Emirates NBD is one of the largest banking groups in the MENA region by assets, reporting AED 1.139 trillion in total assets as of September 2025.
The bank has expanded steadily in recent years, with an established presence across the MENAT region, India, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Successfully tapping Asian liquidity markets at competitive pricing further underscores investor confidence in Emirates NBD’s credit profile and long-term strategy.
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