Difc Bags the Ijarah Deal of the Year Award at IFN Awards

Dubai - 4 March 2015 DIFC Investments (DIFCI), the developer and operator of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), is proud to accept the Ijarah Deal of the Year Award at the Islamic Finance News Deals of the Year 2014 Awards held this week (Monday, March 2, 2015) at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Dubai International Financial Centre.

The award was in recognition of DIFC Investments successful closure of its standalone Sukuk. DIFC Investments closed on US$700 million Sukuk issuance on the 12 of November 2014. The well-received paper garnered strong investor demand, with US$3 billion-worth of orders with particular demand from regional banks and Asian fund managers. DIFCI's issuance also demonstrates the capability of issuers in raising benchmark-sized funds (more than US$500 million) from the international market using an Islamic instrument.

"Our ability to execute Sukuk issuance after the spell of market volatility is a testament to the confidence that investors have in the DIFCI business model. Our ability to raise long-term financing at attractive rates is bound to provide an impetus to other issuers from the region. Awards of this stature certainly are a boost to continuously strive for excellence," said Arif Amiri, Deputy CEO of the DIFC Authority.

Islamic Finance News is a very distinguished and sought after awards recognising industry and market leading practitioners for their exceptional performance in 2014. Selected through rigorous and intense process which includes peer nominations, expert analysis and industry votes, the IFN 2014 awards truly reflects the performances of market players and appreciates industry pioneers.