Dubai -- 4 March 2015 DIFC Investments (DIFCI), the developer and operator of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), is proud to accept the Ijarah Deal of the Year Award at the Islamic Finance News Deals of the Year 2014 Awards held this week (Monday, March 2, 2015) at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Dubai International Financial Centre.
The award was in recognition of DIFC Investments successful closure of its standalone Sukuk. DIFC Investments closed on US$700 million Sukuk issuance on the 12 of November 2014. The well-received paper garnered strong investor demand, with US$3 billion-worth of orders with particular demand from regional banks and Asian fund managers. DIFCI's issuance also demonstrates the capability of issuers in raising benchmark-sized funds (more than US$500 million) from the international market using an Islamic instrument.
"Our ability to execute Sukuk issuance after the spell of market volatility is a testament to the confidence that investors have in the DIFCI business model. Our ability to raise long-term financing at attractive rates is bound to provide an impetus to other issuers from the region. Awards of this stature certainly are a boost to continuously strive for excellence," said Arif Amiri, Deputy CEO of the DIFC Authority.
Islamic Finance News is a very distinguished and sought after awards recognising industry and market leading practitioners for their exceptional performance in 2014. Selected through rigorous and intense process which includes peer nominations, expert analysis and industry votes, the IFN 2014 awards truly reflects the performances of market players and appreciates industry pioneers.
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For further inquiries on DIFC, please contact:
Dubai International Financial Centre
Hajar Alktebi
Associate Director - Public Relations
Email: hajar.alktebi@difc.ae
Tel: 009714362 2440
About the Dubai International Financial Centre
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is the financial hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, providing a world-class platform connecting this region's markets with the economies of Europe, Asia and the Americas. It also is facilitating the growth in South-South trade and investment flows. An onshore, international financial centre, DIFC provides a stable, mature and secure base for financial institutions to develop their wholesale businesses.
The Centre offers all the elements found in the world's most successful financial industry ecosystems, including an independent regulator, an independent judicial system with a common-law framework, a global financial exchange, inspiring architecture, powerful and enabling infrastructure, support services and a vibrant business community. The infrastructure within the district features ultra-modern office space, retail outlets, cafes and restaurants, art galleries, residential apartments, public green areas and hotels.
Located midway between the global financial centres of London in the West and Singapore in the East, DIFC (GMT +4) fills a vital time-zone gap with a workday that bridge the market and business hours of financial centres in both Asia and North America.
Currently, more than 1,200 active registered companies operate from the Centre, including 19 of the world's top 25 banks, 11 of the world's top 20 money managers,
seven of the top 10 insurance companies, and nine of the top 10 law firms. Nearly 18,000 people work in the Centre.
DIFC continues to pursue expansion into new services and sectors within the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, an area comprising over 72 countries with an approximate population of 2.8 billion and nominal GDP of US$ 6.5 trillion.
For further information, please visit our website: www.difc.ae , or follow us on Twitter @DIFC.
© Press Release 2015
