Foreign investors accounted for 77% of new registrations in the first half.
Dubai: The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) added more than 30,000 new investors in the first half of 2026, while total dividends distributed through the market rose to Dh49.9 billion, with foreign participation remaining strong.
New investor registrations rose 7.1% year on year, with foreign investors accounting for 77% of all new registrations during the six-month period.
ADX’s market capitalisation stood at Dh2.8 trillion at the end of June, supported by Dh171 billion in trading value and increased market activity.
Total trading volume rose 3.7% year on year to 50.3 billion shares, while average daily trading volume increased 9% to 423 million shares.
Nearly 3.3 million individual trades were executed during the period, up 12% year on year, while market makers increased their share of total traded value by three percentage points to 15%.
Foreign investors remain active
International investors accounted for 48% of total trading value in the first half, while UAE nationals increased their share by six percentage points to 52%.
Institutional investors contributed 78% of total trading value, with net institutional inflows reaching Dh1.4 billion, up 13.7% from the same period last year.
“ADX remains focused on building a deeper, more liquid and internationally connected market that reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as an open and leading global economy. In H1 2026, we continued to expand market access, strengthen infrastructure and introduce new solutions to enable local and international investors to participate more efficiently and promptly. These results reflect an agile platform built for resilience, sustainable growth and long-term value creation.”
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group
The exchange continued to broaden access for international institutions during the period, with HSBC becoming its first foreign General Clearing Member alongside First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Morgan Stanley also joined ADX as its first international remote trading participant, giving another global institution direct access to the Abu Dhabi market.
More investment options added
ADX welcomed four new listings during the first half, including two dual-listed exchange-traded funds from the New York Stock Exchange, expanding the range of investment products available through the Abu Dhabi market.
The exchange also facilitated rights issues for Sharjah Islamic Bank and Annan Investment Holding.
Cross-border connectivity was strengthened through investor roadshows in London and Hong Kong, a Letter of Intent with Borsa Italiana, and further expansion of the Tabadul network.
The Amman Stock Exchange was added to Tabadul, while ADIB Securities became the first UAE bank brokerage to join the network.
ADX also partnered with FINTECH.TV to establish what it described as the first international financial news studio within a stock exchange in the MENA region.
