Banking & Finance Dubai Islamic Bank sets up green financing framework By Reuters October 23, 2022 REUTERS/Mosab Omar The bank has proposed a cash dividend of 30% for 2022 Dubai Islamic Bank is planning to finance environmental and social projects under a new sustainable finance framework published on Friday. The framework will allow the lender to issue green and sustainability-linked Islamic bonds and loans to fund projects in renewable energy, clean transport, green buildings and wastewater management as well as support job creation and affordable housing, a statement said. Investor demand for ESG-linked financing has surged and interest has picked up in the Gulf and wider Middle East, with increasing opportunities to invest in projects linked to sustainability and energy transition. The next two major climate change conferences, COP27 and COP28, will be held in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates respectively. Issuance of green bonds also allows borrowers from the region to diversify their investor base. Recently, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign Public Investment Fund raised $3 billion from green bonds, while First Abu Dhabi Bank raised $700 million from green bonds earlier this month. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, the United Arab Emirates’ third largest lender, raised $500 million with debut green bonds in September. Proceeds from the debt sale will finance or refinance green loans eligible under the bank’s green bond framework.
