Emirates NBD has partnered with Mapa and Limak to deliver the new Metro 'Blue Line' by a AED3.9 billion ($1 billion) syndicated bond facility in 2025.

Structured under Emirates NBD's Sustainable Finance Framework, the transaction will support a 30 km and 14 - station metro extension that will connect key residential, education, and employment hubs, with projected 200,000 passengers daily in the opening phase by 2030, rising to 320,000-350,000 by 2040.

Emirates NBD acted as sole underwriter, coordinator, mandated lead arranger and bookrunner.

Beyond capital provision, the bank embedded sustainability principles into the financing structure – defining clear eligibility criteria, governance standards, and transparent impact metrics such as passenger-kilometres shifted and carbon dioxide emissions avoided.

It was the replicability of the transaction that attracted the attention of the judges, with one commenting: "In a world where people are constantly searching for the next unique idea or breakthrough, it is easy to overlook a fundamental principle: what truly endures is not uniqueness, but replicability."

"The most powerful models are often those that can be applied consistently, refined over time, and repeated with discipline. Innovation may capture attention, but replicability is what ultimately creates lasting value and impact."