Saudi Arabia Launches Electronic Sukuk, Bond Trading

Saudi Arabia has introduced a fully electronic workflow for trading, clearing, and settling riyal-denominated sukuk and bonds, connecting trade execution, clearing, and settlement in a single streamlined process for investors in the Kingdom's fixed-income market.

Under the new setup, investors request and compare price quotes electronically from eligible dealers. Once a trade is executed, it is routed to Muqassa for central-counterparty clearing. Muqassa then issues settlement instructions to Edaa, which completes the securities transaction. All securities are held in electronic form, and settlement is carried out in Saudi riyals.

The market operates from Sunday to Thursday, with an opening auction between 09:30 and 10:00, followed by continuous trading from 10:00 to 15:00. Transactions settle on a T+2 cycle, meaning trades are finalized two business days after execution.

Fees and lot sizes

The trading commission is set at 0.5 basis points. Brokerage-services fees have no prescribed minimum or maximum, so the fee applied may vary from one broker to another. The minimum lot size is determined by the terms and conditions of each individual issuance.

For residents and expats looking to diversify their holdings, the electronic workflow offers a clearer, more transparent route into the Kingdom's debt-securities market. Standardized trading hours, a defined settlement cycle, and electronic quote comparison make the process more accessible and easier to navigate for a wider range of investors.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving