Riyad Bank Gets $1.5 Billion as Mideast Loans to Asia Hit Record

14/11/2025 09:14 AST

One of Saudi Arabia's largest lenders, Riyad Bank SJSC, has secured a $1.5 billion syndicated loan, primarily from banks in Greater China, as Middle Eastern borrowers tap Asian bank liquidity at record level.

The loan drew participation from 34 banks in total, mainly from China, Taiwan and South Korea, according to a person familiar, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters. The facility also included a $500 million greenshoe option, the person added.

Riyad Bank didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Riyad Bank's loan is the latest in a series of deals from the Gulf, particularly from Saudi Arabia, tapping Asian liquidity as regional economies press ahead with expensive expansion plans and seek to diversify funding sources.

Middle Eastern borrowers have raised around $12 billion in syndicated loans from lenders across Asia Pacific so far in 2025, a record high and nearly triple the amount raised during the same period last year, according to Bloomberg-compiled data that tracks volume since 1999.

Recent deals include a debut Chinese yuan-denominated loan for the Government of Sharjah's Finance Department, a local state entity from the United Arab Emirates, Bloomberg News reported in October. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund ADQ secured a $5 billion loan last month.

Riyad Bank's facility carries tenors of five and seven years, with interest margins of 90 basis points and 117.5 basis points over the benchmark Secured Overnight Financing Rate, respectively, the person said.

Reuters

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