DAVOS: Arab Gulf countries want to strengthen their historic ties with the US under the new administration of President Donald Trump as the Middle East urgently needs peace and stability, according to the UAE’s Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri.

The Emirati minister spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday and said that the UAE was the US’ No. 1 commerce partner within the Gulf Cooperation Council, with a bilateral trade of $40 billion annually.

He added that the relationship between the UAE and the US was an example of the strategic ties that Washington had forged with other GCC countries, such as Oman and Bahrain.

Al-Marri said the GCC region had experienced significant economic growth over the past 50 years. However, the Middle East continued to be a volatile region, riddled with political and armed conflicts.

Al-Marri said: “Now, what do we want in the region? We want more peace and we want more stability, and we want more growth for the region.”

He added that the UAE viewed its relationship with the US from a macro perspective and wished to continue on a strong and steady path during the Trump administration.

The Emirati minister was speaking on a panel called “Hard Power: Wake-up Call for Companies,” which addressed geopolitical and environmental issues related to corporations and investments.

Other panelists included Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko; Nader Mousavizadeh, the CEO of Macro Advisory Partners; and Nir Bar Dea, the CEO of Bridgewater Associates.

Svyrydenko said that Ukraine faced a challenge in convincing investors and corporations to conduct business in a country locked in a conflict with Russia.

The deputy premier said that Ukrainian officials had done their homework to create a secure environment for investments in Ukraine, but that Kyiv was finding it challenging to meet the safety expectations of potential investors.

Svyrydenko said: “What kind of security guarantee do (investors) need? Do you need an anti-missile system in the industrial belts? Or do you need troops, or do you need NATO? It’s time for business to be more vocal about this and help us (answer) this issue.”

Al-Marri said the UAE was “supportive” of the government of Ukraine when asked if Russian nationals residing in the UAE could return home if Trump helps to end the conflict in Eastern Europe.

There are no officially published figures regarding the number of Russian residents in the UAE although at least 1 million Russians visit the country annually as tourists.

Despite the potential for a tariff war between the US and China, Al-Marri stressed that the annual bilateral trade volume between Beijing and Abu Dhabi stood at $80 billion annually.

He said: “You can’t say ‘I need the world without China,’ and you can’t have the world without China; let’s be clear on that. You need China in this kind of trade domain.”

Al-Marri said that the UAE had “always built a bridge, always designed a supply chain” between regions.

He added: “We are ready for the world. We are very open, and we need corporations as well to think about the UAE as a place (for business and trade).”

He said that the UAE’s strategic location between East and West was ideal for companies connecting with various markets.

He added: “So, if you open a shop in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you are operating the whole world.”

The minister shared his hopes of Dubai becoming a “20-minute commute” city, as its population is projected to reach 4 million next year.

RIYADH: The global issuance of environmental, social, and governance sukuk is expected to surpass $50 billion outstanding in 2025, driven by Islamic finance markets in countries including Saudi Arabia, according to an analysis. 

In its latest report, Fitch Ratings said the global value of Shariah-compliant bonds focused on ESG expanded by 23 percent year on year to $45.2 billion outstanding in 2024. This growth outpaced global ESG bonds, which saw a 16 percent increase. The analysis added that countries such as the UAE, Indonesia, and Malaysia would play a key role in driving the growth of ESG sukuk.

These bonds are investments in renewable energy and other environmental assets and are considered key debt instruments as the world moves toward a greener future. 

“The ESG sukuk market has a robust credit profile, with nearly all Fitch-rated ESG sukuk being investment grade,” said Bashar Al Natoor, global head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings. 

He added: “Sukuk is now a key ESG funding tool in emerging markets, with growth expected amidst sustainability initiatives, funding needs, and a favorable funding environment. However, issuances remain concentrated in a handful of countries.”

ESG sukuk expansion also outpaced global sukuk growth, which witnessed a 10 percent increase in 2024. 

The US-based credit rating agency added that green and sustainable sukuk could help issuers opportunistically tap demand from ESG-sensitive international investors from the US, Europe, and Asia, as well as sukuk-focused Islamic investors from the Gulf Cooperation Council region. 

Several factors, including funding diversification goals, enabling regulations, sustainability initiatives, and net-zero targets pursued by sovereigns, banks, and corporations, as well as government-related entities, could boost the issuance of this debt product in 2025.

The analysis revealed that ESG sukuk is also likely to cross 15 percent of global dollar sukuk issuance in the medium term. 

The report also highlighted the impact of the adoption of Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions’ Sharia Standard 62. 

“Risks facing ESG sukuk market growth include Shariah-compliance complexities, such as linked to AAOIFI Sharia Standard No. 62, weakening sustainability drives, geopolitical risks, and oil volatilities,” said Fitch Ratings. 

This AAOIFI guideline, which was published as an exposure draft in late 2023, aims to standardize various aspects of the sukuk market, including asset backing, ownership transfer, and trading procedures.

Earlier this month, S&P Global said that global sukuk issuance is projected to hit between $190 billion and $200 billion in 2025, driven by increased activity in key markets such as the Kingdom and Indonesia. 

In December, a report by Kamco Invest projected that Saudi Arabia would face the largest share of bond maturities in the GCC region from 2025 to 2029, reaching an estimated $168 billion.