Abu Dhabi – Mubasher: The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) announced that it has been named “Best Sukuk House of the Year” at the Global Islamic Finance Awards 2015 at the ceremony held in Bahrain on 28 September. 

“This is the 46th industry award NBAD has won year-to-date across its bonds, loans and Sukuk platform - more than any other Middle Eastern bank,” the bank revealed in a statement published Wednesday.

This year, the Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) “recognised 30 honourees in 40 fiercely contested categories.” GIFA awards are considered among the most prestigious accolades for excellence in Islamic finance.

“Leadership in Islamic capital markets is a cornerstone of NBAD’s financing proposition and we are honoured that this has been recognised by GIFA. During the past year we have strived to be at the forefront of innovation in international Sukuk so to win ‘Best Sukuk House’ for 2015 is especially satisfying,” said Andy Cairns, NBAD’s managing director and global head of debt origination and distribution.

NBAD topped bookrunners for international Sukuk in Q1-15 by Bloomberg and has played a leading role in the development of Sukuk as an asset class, the bank noted in its statement, adding that it has structured and led several major Sukuk transactions over the past year including Emirates Airlines’ UKEF-backed Sukuk, representing the first-ever Export Credit Agency guaranteed Sukuk.

NBAD also acted as joint bookrunner in the inaugural Sukuk for non-Islamic sovereigns for the UK and Hong Kong SAR plus multiple benchmark Sukuk offerings from issuers including the Emirates of Sharjah, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, International Finance Corporation, Goldman Sachs, the International Finance Facility for Immunisation, Islamic Development Bank, flydubai and Emaar Malls.