Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Launches MENA’s First Digital Bond

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has listed the first blockchain-based bond in the Middle East and North Africa region. Working with HSBC and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the bond is issued on distributed ledger rails and settles through HSBC’s Orion platform, while remaining compatible with post-trade systems like Euroclear and Clearstream.

The digital bond entered its pricing phase on July 3 and is expected to trade on ADX alongside traditional fixed-income products. The launch comes as the UAE pushes ahead with fintech adoption and real-world asset tokenization.

In a statement from the press release , ADX CEO Abdulla Salem Al Nuaimi said, “The successful issuance of MENA’s first blockchain-based digital bond, in close collaboration with FAB and HSBC, marks a defining moment in our journey to transform capital markets through innovation.”

The bond records ownership and settlement directly on blockchain, which reduces counterparty risk and shortens clearing times. ADX said global investors can access the instrument via HSBC Orion or through their usual custodians.

The move places Abu Dhabi in line with markets such as Hong Kong, Luxembourg and Singapore, where regulated venues have already introduced tokenized bond offerings.

Market analysts say digital bonds can offer faster settlement, broader investor access and operational savings. With this launch, ADX joins a growing list of exchanges exploring how tokenisation can improve liquidity and efficiency in traditional finance.