Gulf Cooperation Council fixed income markets are preparing for a sharp rise in bond and sukuk repayments over the coming years, with maturities expected to reach $143.1 billion in 2029, according to Kamco Invest’s latest GCC Fixed Income Market Update.
The report, based on Bloomberg data, found that GCC bond and sukuk maturities will increase from $30.7 billion in 2026 and remain high between 2027 and 2031 before gradually declining toward 2035.
Between 2026 and 2030, sovereign maturities are projected at $236.6 billion, while corporate maturities are expected to reach $254.8 billion. Combined, the region faces almost $500 billion in repayments during the five-year period.
US dollar-denominated instruments account for 64.5 per cent of the total maturity profile. Saudi riyal-denominated debt represents 9.2 per cent, while Qatari riyal debt makes up 7.3 per cent.
Conventional bonds account for the largest share at $308.4 billion, compared with $183 billion in sukuk. Much of the debt carries high investment-grade or A-rated classifications, indicating relatively strong credit quality among many issuers.
Saudi Arabia has the largest overall maturity burden through 2030 at $167.4 billion, with government borrowing accounting for most of the total. The UAE follows with $157.4 billion, but corporate borrowers make up the majority of its maturities, with $125.6 billion due during the period.
Qatar ranks third with $89 billion in maturities. Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain face significantly smaller repayment obligations at $22.3 billion, $31.5 billion and $23.7 billion respectively.
The UAE is also at the centre of the GCC’s corporate maturity challenge. Banks and financial institutions account for $187.4 billion, or 73.5 per cent, of total corporate maturities through 2030. UAE banks alone face $88.9 billion in repayments, the largest exposure for any sector and country combination in the region.
Qatari banks follow with $32.9 billion in maturities. Together, banks in the UAE and Qatar account for 47.8 per cent of GCC corporate repayments.
The UAE also has the region’s largest real estate-related maturity profile, with $11.4 billion due by 2030, compared with $3.2 billion in Saudi Arabia.
GCC bond and sukuk issuance reached $116.8 billion during the first half of 2026, marking a 14.3 per cent increase from the same period last year. The UAE accounted for all $4.8 billion of green bond and sukuk issuance in the GCC during the period.
Kamco Invest expects financing activity to remain strong as governments and companies prepare for large debt repayments, budget pressures linked to softer oil revenues and infrastructure spending. However, renewed regional geopolitical tensions could delay foreign currency issuance and push credit spreads higher.
