RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council banks are projected to issue over $30 billion in US dollar-denominated debt in 2025, following a record $42 billion in 2024, Fitch Ratings said in a new report. 

The surge in debt issuance is set to be driven by nearly $23 billion in maturing debt, lower US dollar interest rates, and strong regional credit demand, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. 

This comes as GCC banks accounted for 18 percent of total US dollar debt issuance by emerging-market banks in 2024, with this figure rising to 36 percent if Chinese banks are excluded. Favorable global financing conditions, supported by high oil prices expected to stay around $70 per barrel in 2025, are expected to continue to bolster investor confidence in the region. 

“We expect Saudi banks’ US dollar debt issuance to continue representing a high proportion of overall GCC issuance given the country’s strong credit growth outlook, especially in the corporate segment, and the banks’ increased use of external funding due to high competition for liquidity locally,” stated Fitch Ratings. 

Last year, GCC banks broke their previous debt issuance record of $25.6 billion set in 2020. This increase was largely attributed to strong credit growth in Saudi Arabia, banks’ efforts to diversify funding sources, and high debt maturities. The issuance of certificates of deposits alone totaled $8.6 billion, benefiting from investor optimism and the region’s economic stability, the report noted. 

Saudi and UAE banks were the leading issuers, each accounting for around a third of total GCC debt issuance. Saudi banks, in particular, have become active in international debt markets since 2020, using external funding to support aggressive growth strategies, diversify funding bases, and meet rising foreign currency demands. 

Short-term CDs were a key instrument in GCC banks’ debt strategies in 2024, accounting for about 21 percent of total debt issuance. Key financial hubs such as New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore facilitated much of this activity, broadening investor bases and enhancing liquidity options. 

The report noted that Islamic finance stayed strong, with sukuk issuance accounting for nearly half of the total 2024 issuance, excluding CDs. The growth in sukuk highlights its appeal to shariah-compliant investors and competitive pricing that makes it an attractive funding instrument for regional banks. 

Fitch expects Saudi banks to maintain a dominant share of GCC debt issuance in 2025, driven by strong credit growth in the corporate sector and increasing competition for local liquidity. 

In 2025, GCC banks will face substantial debt maturities, with Qatari banks expected to account for one-third of the $23 billion due. Saudi and UAE banks will each represent about a quarter of the maturing debt. 

Despite global economic uncertainties, Fitch stated that GCC banks are expected to leverage their solid credit ratings and favorable economic conditions to secure advantageous financing terms. 

Sukuk issuance is expected to grow further as banks tap into the expanding pool of shariah-compliant investors. Fitch said the continued use of short-term instruments like CDs will provide banks with greater flexibility in managing funding needs and expanding their global investor base. 

Additionally, GCC banks are expected to issue $2.2 billion in additional Tier 1 instruments with first call dates in 2025, followed by $3.1 billion in 2026. This will further support debt issuance, as most GCC bank AT1s are likely to be called due to favorable financing conditions. 

AT1 issuance reached $5 billion in 2024, up from $1.7 billion in 2023, marking the highest level since 2021. This surge was driven mainly by Saudi banks. 

As GCC banks continue to play a key role in regional economic growth, their strategic debt issuance and diversified funding solutions are expected to drive further financial stability and market confidence in 2025. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's National Assembly on Thursday passed a bill to amend the country’s cybercrime law amid a walkout by opposition parties and journalists who fear the new legislation will be used to censor social media platforms. 
Pakistan adopted the much-criticized Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in 2016, granting sweeping powers to regulators to block private information they deemed illegal. The law provided for up to seven years in prison for “recruiting, funding and planning of terrorism” online. It also allowed “authorized officers” to require anyone to unlock any computer, mobile phone or other device during an investigation.
The government said at the time restrictions under the new law were needed to ensure security against growing threats, such as terrorism, and to crackdown on unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment. However, journalists and rights activists complain that the law has been largely used to go after journalists, bloggers and other people critical of the government and state institutions like the military. 
The new amendment bill now proposes the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to perform a range of functions related to social media, including awareness, training, regulation, enlistment and blocking. SMPRA would be able to order the immediate blocking of unlawful content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies or material which promotes and encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state or its institutions. The law also makes spreading disinformation a criminal offense punishable by three years in prison and a fine of two million rupees ($7,150).
“Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend up to three years or with fine which may extend to Rs2m or with both,” a copy of the bill says.
The bill was presented in the National Assembly on Thursday by Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party of premier Shehbaz Sharif. 
“The bill will not harm but protect working journalists,” Information Minister Ataullah Tarar told reporters after the passage of the bill. “This is the first time the government has defined what social media is. There is already a system in place for print and electronic media and complaints can be registered against them.”
He said “working journalists” should not feel threatened by the bill, which had to be passed because the Federal Investigation Agency, previously responsible for handling cybercrime, “does not have the capacity to handle child pornography or AI deep fake cases.”
Tarar said the government was also aiming to bring social media journalists, including those operating YouTube accounts, under the tax framework.
The operative part of the new bill outlines that the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform for the removal or blocking of online content if it was against the ideology of Pakistan, incited the public to violate the law or take the law in own hands with a view to coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions, incited the public to cause damage to governmental or private property or coerced or intimidated the public and thereby prevented them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupted civic life.
The authority will also crackdown on anyone inciting hatred and contempt on a religious, sectarian or ethnic basis as well as against obscene or pornographic content and deep fakes.  
Rights activists say the new bill is part of a widespread digital crackdown that includes a ban on X since February last year, restrictions on VPN use and the implementation of a national firewall. The government says the measures are not aimed at censorship.