In a strategic financial maneuver executed on February 2, 2026, Standard Chartered Bank has successfully raised $170 million through the issuance of a Certificate of Deposit via its Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) branch. This transaction was conducted under the bank’s established UK electronic commercial paper and certificate of deposit program, marking a significant advancement in utilizing Dubai as a pivotal platform for international capital mobilization.
Certificates of Deposit represent short-term investment instruments that financial institutions employ to secure funding from substantial investors, including institutional entities and asset management firms. For the broader public, this signifies a regulated borrowing mechanism where the bank obtains short-term capital while providing investors with a secure, tradable instrument guaranteed by a globally recognized financial entity.
The execution of this financial operation through the DIFC underscores the United Arab Emirates’ expanding influence as a global financial nexus, strategically connecting capital flows between Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and European markets. Camil Zoghby, Head of Treasury Markets for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan at Standard Chartered, emphasized that “this issuance represents the first of many in the region and constitutes a crucial milestone in enhancing our funding resilience while extending our global liquidity reach.”
This financial development not only strengthens Standard Chartered’s funding infrastructure and access to diverse international capital pools but also validates the UAE’s sophisticated financial ecosystem. The nation’s sustained investments in robust regulatory frameworks, transparent market operations, and advanced digital financial infrastructure have positioned Dubai as an increasingly attractive destination for complex international funding activities.
The transaction simultaneously benefits multiple stakeholders: investors gain exposure to low-risk, short-term investment vehicles backed by a globally active banking institution, while the UAE reinforces its standing as a credible and sophisticated jurisdiction for international financial operations. By selecting the DIFC as the platform for this issuance, Standard Chartered actively contributes to the UAE’s broader ambition of establishing itself as a preeminent global financial center bridging Eastern and Western capital markets.