The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has announced impressive results for the first quarter of 2026, showcasing robust trading activity and heightened liquidity levels. With a total revenue of approximately 253 million dirhams, this figure marks a significant increase from the same period last year, when revenues stood at 186.5 million dirhams. This article will delve into the various factors contributing to the notable performance of the DFM, emphasizing its strong market presence.
Financial Highlights of Q1 2026
During the first quarter, the DFM recorded consolidated revenues totaling about 253.1 million dirhams. This included 171.9 million dirhams generated from operational income and 81.2 million dirhams from investment returns and other revenues. In terms of profit, the pre-tax net income reached 193.3 million dirhams, a significant rise from last year’s 134.9 million dirhams. Total expenses, excluding tax, amounted to 59.8 million dirhams, compared to 51.6 million dirhams in Q1 2025.
Surge in Daily Trading Activity
The average daily trading value at the DFM exceeded one billion dirhams, reaching 1.03 billion dirhams compared to 663 million dirhams during the same period last year. This reflects a remarkable annual increase of 56%. The total trading value during the quarter also surged by 48% to 61 billion dirhams, up from 41 billion dirhams in the previous year, indicating a sustained depth and breadth of market activity.
Growth in Investor Participation
In Q1, the DFM attracted 20,702 new investors, rising from 19,366 in the same quarter last year, with 79% of these investors coming from outside the UAE. Foreign investors contributed 54% to the total trading value, while institutional investors accounted for 70%. This underscores the DFM’s ongoing appeal to a diverse and distinguished investor base. Furthermore, by the end of March 2026, the market capitalization reached an impressive 897 billion dirhams.
Executive Insights and Future Outlook
Hilal Saeed Al Merri, Chairman of the DFM, remarked, “The performance of the DFM during the first quarter reflects a solid and unwavering confidence in Dubai’s capital markets.” He emphasized that surpassing the threshold of one billion dirhams in average daily trading is a significant milestone, demonstrating the growing depth and liquidity of the market. Al Merri attributed this success to Dubai’s strong economic fundamentals and ongoing efforts to enhance market infrastructure.
Hamed Ali, CEO of the DFM and Nasdaq Dubai, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the resilience and depth exhibited in the market’s activities. He stated that the strong participation from both institutional and individual investors, coupled with good liquidity levels, has solidified the DFM’s reputation as a reliable investment platform. Moving forward, the DFM remains committed to improving market accessibility and expanding opportunities for both issuers and investors, reinforcing its role as a leading global financial hub.
The DFM continues to focus on attracting new investors and strengthening its market infrastructure, ensuring that the foundations supporting the growth of liquidity and trading activity remain robust. This positions the DFM favorably to build upon the momentum achieved in the first quarter of 2026.