Arab development finance institutions report $25.7bn across 735 operations

The Arab Coordination Group, a coalition of ten development finance institutions, says its members extended US$25.7 billion in financing for nearly 735 operations across more than 97 countries during 2025. The figures were disclosed during a meeting of heads of member institutions in Vienna and provide a measure of the coalition’s development financing activity.

According to the group’s release, collective financing since its establishment has exceeded US$331.5 billion across more than 13,000 development projects in over 160 countries. These are cumulative figures for the group rather than a single new funding package available to applicants.

The institutions include the Islamic Development Bank, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, OPEC Fund for International Development, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Saudi Fund for Development and several other Arab and Gulf development funds. Their work covers infrastructure, energy, agriculture, public services and other development priorities in eligible markets.

At the Vienna discussions, members reviewed cooperation and project delivery, as well as partnerships with other development banks, the Government of Barbados and representatives of climate-vulnerable countries. Leaders also considered how joint financing arrangements could respond to pressures on public budgets, food systems and essential infrastructure.

The annual figures are significant for governments and project sponsors seeking to understand the scale of potential financing partners. However, the headline amount is not a list of open grants or loans. Individual institutions apply their own country eligibility, project-appraisal, environmental, financial and procurement standards, and funding can be committed, approved or disbursed at different stages.

For African infrastructure and enterprise projects, the practical lesson is to match a proposal to a funder’s mandate rather than approach the entire alliance with an undifferentiated funding request. Strong project preparation, clear counterparties and evidence of development impact remain important before capital can be mobilised.

The group’s financing numbers describe its 2025 activity and should not be presented as additional funding secured this November. Subsequent portfolio results require separate disclosure.

Source: Arab Coordination Group, release on its 21st Heads of Institutions Meeting. Featured photograph: group media image supplied with the announcement.