DFM trading volume surges 22% to Dh162bn as international investors flock to Dubai market

Dubai Financial Market (DFM) recorded a 22 percent jump in total traded value to Dh162 billion during the first nine months of 2026, driven by rising participation from international and institutional investors, the exchange announced on Thursday.

Trading volumes and profitability

Net profit before tax reached Dh586.4 million for the period ended 30 September, while total consolidated revenue stood at Dh753.2 million. Revenue declined compared with the same period a year earlier, as the 2025 figures had included a one-off gain of Dh461.9 million from the sale of an investment property. Operating income, however, climbed 24.8 percent to Dh511.2 million, reflecting stronger market activity.

Average daily traded value rose 25 percent year-on-year to Dh883 million, while the average number of daily trades increased 26 percent to about 17,200. Total trades grew 24 percent to 3.16 million during the period.

Market capitalisation stood at Dh993 billion at the end of September, broadly unchanged from a year earlier. The DFM General Index fell 1.4 percent since the start of the year.

International and institutional investors drive growth

Helal Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of DFM, said the increase in trading activity reflected confidence in Dubai’s economic and financial ecosystem. “The 22% growth in total traded value during the first nine months of 2026 reflects sustained investor engagement and the growing depth of Dubai’s capital markets,” he said. “That participation is underpinned by Dubai’s economic fundamentals, its expanding financial ecosystem and continued international investor interest.”

DFM attracted 55,460 new investors in the first nine months of the year, with international investors accounting for 72 percent of new registrations. The exchange’s investor base has now exceeded 1.3 million. Institutional investors represented 73 percent of total traded value, up from 70 percent a year earlier, while foreign investors contributed 51 percent of overall trading activity. Foreign ownership accounted for 19 percent of market capitalisation and institutional ownership reached 86.5 percent.

Hamed Ali, CEO of DFM and Nasdaq Dubai, said the results highlighted the exchange’s progress in broadening participation and improving market accessibility. “With our investor base now exceeding 1.3 million, the participation of institutional and international investors reflects confidence in our market and its infrastructure,” he said. “As we expand access to our market and support new listings, we remain focused on advancing the long-term development of Dubai’s capital markets.”

Expanding access and digital integration

During the period, DFM supported retail participation in the UAE Ministry of Finance’s first Retail Sukuk issuance, which attracted more than 18,000 investors through DFM channels. The exchange also expanded digital access through integrations with the Baraka investment app and EFG Hermes ONE platform, enabling more investors to access the market and open trading accounts digitally.

Looking ahead, DFM said it would continue focusing on increasing liquidity, expanding market access and strengthening its market infrastructure as Dubai seeks to enhance its position as a regional and global financial hub.