emirates7 - First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has completed the successful issuance of a HKD 390 million (USD 50 million) five-year Blue Bond — the first of its kind to be launched by a financial institution in the Gulf region. This milestone transaction underscores FAB’s leadership in sustainable finance and reinforces the UAE’s strategic focus on safeguarding water resources and advancing the blue economy.
The privately placed bond was subscribed to by an Article 9 (Dark Green) investor seeking a dedicated blue-labelled instrument. It has been structured in line with FAB’s 2023 Sustainable Finance Framework as well as the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles.
This pioneering issuance directly supports the UAE Water Agenda 2036, which aims to foster innovation and build sustainable infrastructure for vital marine ecosystems. It also ties into the nation’s broader environmental priorities, notably as Abu Dhabi prepares to host the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Congress in October 2025 and the UN Water Conference in December 2026.
Blue bonds are an emerging category of sustainable finance instruments designed to advance water-related environmental goals. By channeling capital into ocean protection and sustainable water management, financial institutions like FAB are helping to address areas long underfunded despite their global importance.
As a regional leader, FAB is committed to embedding nature into its strategy and mobilizing finance to generate meaningful environmental impact. Through this issuance, the bank is directing investment into projects that restore and safeguard ocean health, while enhancing long-term environmental and economic resilience.
Eligible assets under FAB’s blue portfolio include projects such as sustainable water management infrastructure (e.g. safe drinking water solutions), climate adaptation initiatives (e.g. conservation of wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs), sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and biodiversity protection across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank acted as Sole Dealer for this landmark transaction.
Shargiil Bashir, Chief Sustainability Officer at FAB, commented: “This Blue Bond represents a defining moment for FAB and a first for any Gulf financial institution. It demonstrates our belief that banks must not only finance the future, but actively shape it. By channeling capital into the protection of water resources and marine ecosystems, FAB is setting a new benchmark for sustainable finance in the region. This achievement strengthens our role in supporting the UAE’s leadership on climate and biodiversity as the country prepares to host two global summits — the IUCN Congress and the UN Water Conference — and we are honored to contribute to this pivotal transition.”
Tanguy Claquin, Global Head of Sustainability at Crédit Agricole CIB, added: “We are proud to have partnered with FAB as Sole Dealer for this landmark issuance. The transaction highlights the region’s growing commitment to aligning financial innovation with global environmental priorities. FAB continues to set an ambitious pace for sustainability in the Middle East, and this deal reflects increasing demand among global investors to channel capital into emerging areas of sustainable finance such as the blue economy, biodiversity, and nature conservation.”
The privately placed bond was subscribed to by an Article 9 (Dark Green) investor seeking a dedicated blue-labelled instrument. It has been structured in line with FAB’s 2023 Sustainable Finance Framework as well as the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles.
This pioneering issuance directly supports the UAE Water Agenda 2036, which aims to foster innovation and build sustainable infrastructure for vital marine ecosystems. It also ties into the nation’s broader environmental priorities, notably as Abu Dhabi prepares to host the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Congress in October 2025 and the UN Water Conference in December 2026.
Blue bonds are an emerging category of sustainable finance instruments designed to advance water-related environmental goals. By channeling capital into ocean protection and sustainable water management, financial institutions like FAB are helping to address areas long underfunded despite their global importance.
As a regional leader, FAB is committed to embedding nature into its strategy and mobilizing finance to generate meaningful environmental impact. Through this issuance, the bank is directing investment into projects that restore and safeguard ocean health, while enhancing long-term environmental and economic resilience.
Eligible assets under FAB’s blue portfolio include projects such as sustainable water management infrastructure (e.g. safe drinking water solutions), climate adaptation initiatives (e.g. conservation of wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs), sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and biodiversity protection across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank acted as Sole Dealer for this landmark transaction.
Shargiil Bashir, Chief Sustainability Officer at FAB, commented: “This Blue Bond represents a defining moment for FAB and a first for any Gulf financial institution. It demonstrates our belief that banks must not only finance the future, but actively shape it. By channeling capital into the protection of water resources and marine ecosystems, FAB is setting a new benchmark for sustainable finance in the region. This achievement strengthens our role in supporting the UAE’s leadership on climate and biodiversity as the country prepares to host two global summits — the IUCN Congress and the UN Water Conference — and we are honored to contribute to this pivotal transition.”
Tanguy Claquin, Global Head of Sustainability at Crédit Agricole CIB, added: “We are proud to have partnered with FAB as Sole Dealer for this landmark issuance. The transaction highlights the region’s growing commitment to aligning financial innovation with global environmental priorities. FAB continues to set an ambitious pace for sustainability in the Middle East, and this deal reflects increasing demand among global investors to channel capital into emerging areas of sustainable finance such as the blue economy, biodiversity, and nature conservation.”