Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the world’s first Islamic bank and the largest in the UAE, has announced its participation in a landmark US$1.85 billion syndicated dual-tranche financing facility extended to Olam Agri, a leading global agri-business. The deal marks DIB’s first collaboration with the company and further strengthens the role of Shariah-compliant finance in driving global sustainability and economic resilience.
DIB served as Senior Mandated Lead Arranger and Investment Agent for the Islamic tranche, positioning the bank at the forefront of large-scale, cross-border Islamic finance transactions. The three-year facility will support Olam Agri’s general corporate needs and enhance its efforts to strengthen food security and supply chain resilience across key markets.
Olam Agri is majority-owned by Singapore’s Olam Group, with a significant minority stake held by SALIC (Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The company plays a vital role in global food systems, connecting agri-supply chains and promoting sustainable agriculture.
In a statement, Ali Ahmad, Chief of Investment Banking at DIB, said:
“We are really pleased to have closed our first deal with Olam Agri. This transaction is a clear reflection of the growing global demand for Islamic liquidity — not as an alternative, but as a core instrument for financing the real economy.”
He added that DIB’s leadership role in structuring and executing the Islamic tranche demonstrates its ability to deliver scale, certainty, and alignment with ethical principles in complex financing mandates. The deal also emphasizes Islamic finance’s growing relevance in strategic sectors like agriculture and food security.
DIB views agri-finance as a crucial driver of inclusive growth, resource stewardship, and innovation. The bank continues to advance its mission by channelling Islamic capital into sectors that directly contribute to global development goals.
This financing supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to sustainable infrastructure, economic growth, and global partnerships. Through strategic transactions like this, DIB reinforces its commitment to enabling long-term, ethical impact through values-led financial solutions.
The deal adds to DIB’s expanding portfolio of Islamic syndications in emerging sectors, affirming its ability to align faith-based finance with global economic priorities. It also showcases DIB’s efforts to shape the future of capital markets by placing real-economy outcomes and sustainability at the heart of financial innovation.
