Gulf International Bank B.S.C. (GIB) has closed its debut $500 million syndicated Murabaha financing facility, marking a milestone in its funding strategy and expanding its footprint in the Islamic finance market, according to a company announcement.
The three-year Shariah-compliant facility was significantly oversubscribed, attracting strong interest from a diversified pool of regional and international banks.
The transaction represents GIB’s first Islamic syndicated deal in the international market and is a key step in broadening its funding sources while reinforcing its financial position.
The strong uptake is viewed as an endorsement of the bank’s creditworthiness and the confidence of the lending community in its business strategy and regional presence.
Proceeds from the facility are expected to support GIB’s ongoing growth across core markets in the GCC and strategic business segments, including investment banking, wholesale banking, and treasury services.
The facility’s structure aligns with GIB’s continued efforts to expand its Islamic finance capabilities and cater to growing demand for Shariah-compliant instruments.
The syndication was led by SMBC Group, which acted as the Initial Mandated Lead Arranger, Bookrunner, and Coordinator. Emirates NBD Capital Limited and First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC joined the transaction as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners.
The successful placement enhances GIB’s liquidity profile and strengthens its funding resilience amid dynamic market conditions.
The participation of a wide array of financial institutions highlights the bank’s ability to attract capital on favorable terms while diversifying its investor base beyond conventional financing routes.
Established in 1975 and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, GIB operates as a pan-GCC universal bank with subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, along with branches in the UAE, Oman, London, and the United States.
The bank is owned by the governments of the GCC countries, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund as its largest shareholder.