Burjeel Holdings celebrated the listing of its inaugural Burjeel Holdings Sukuk on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market. The landmark move marks the healthcare group’s first international debt capital markets transaction and positions it for long-term investment in innovation, specialised healthcare and regional expansion.
LONDON: Burjeel Holdings has reached a significant financial milestone after celebrating the admission of its inaugural Burjeel Holdings Sukuk to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market. The ceremony reflects the UAE-based healthcare group’s growing international presence and highlights increasing investor confidence in the region’s healthcare sector.
The Market Open Ceremony was attended by H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Saud Al Qasimi, Deputy Chief of Mission at the UAE Embassy in the United Kingdom, alongside Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and CEO of Burjeel Holdings, senior company executives and representatives from the London Stock Exchange.
The listing follows the successful completion of the company’s inaugural USD 500 million Sukuk, issued under its USD 1.5 billion Senior Unsecured Sukuk Programme. It represents Burjeel Holdings’ first entry into the international debt capital markets and is also the first Sukuk issued by a healthcare provider from the Middle East and North Africa region since 2018.
What does this milestone mean?
A Sukuk is an Islamic financial instrument that complies with Sharia principles by allowing investors to earn returns through asset-backed structures instead of conventional interest payments. These instruments have become an increasingly important source of funding for governments and corporations across the Gulf region.
For Burjeel Holdings, the successful issuance broadens its financing options while strengthening its access to international institutional investors. The company revealed that the offering attracted a USD 1.6 billion orderbook, making it 3.2 times oversubscribed. International investors accounted for 61 per cent of the final allocation, demonstrating strong overseas demand for the healthcare group’s debut issuance.
The Sukuk has also received investment ratings of BB+ from S&P Global Ratings and Ba2 from Moody’s Ratings. These ratings indicate confidence in the company’s business model, financial position and long-term growth prospects.
According to the company, the proceeds from the transaction will primarily be used to refinance existing debt while supporting strategic investments across its healthcare network. These include expanding specialised clinical services, advancing medical research, strengthening education programmes and accelerating digital transformation through artificial intelligence and technology-driven healthcare solutions.
Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil described the occasion as an important chapter in the company’s journey.
He said the listing reflects Burjeel Holdings’ progress as an organisation while reinforcing its commitment to combining clinical excellence with sustainable financial growth. He added that the stronger financial foundation would support continued investment in healthcare professionals, specialised medical services, research, education and innovation across the communities the group serves.
The successful market debut also underlines the growing appeal of GCC healthcare companies among global investors. As healthcare demand continues to rise across the region, access to international capital markets can help organisations accelerate expansion while maintaining long-term financial resilience.
The London Stock Exchange listing therefore represents more than a financing milestone. It signals Burjeel Holdings’ ambition to become a globally recognised healthcare platform capable of delivering advanced patient care while supporting innovation, education and sustainable growth across the Middle East and beyond.
