The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has reported a 40.4% increase in overall trading activity during the first half of 2026, alongside a net profit before tax of AED 443.2 million. This surge reflects heightened investor participation and confidence in Dubai’s robust economic foundations.
Revenue Breakdown
Total consolidated revenues for the DFM reached AED 557 million in the first half of this year. This figure includes operating income of AED 384.8 million and investment income and other revenue of AED 172.2 million. In comparison, the DFM experienced revenues of AED 888.9 million in the first half of 2025, bolstered by a one-off income from the sale of an investment property valued at AED 462.2 million.
Operational Costs
Operating expenses, excluding taxes, amounted to AED 113.8 million, a slight increase from AED 111.8 million in the same period last year. This indicates a continued investment in the market’s infrastructure and technology, while management remains committed to efficient spending.
Trading Activity Growth
The DFM witnessed a notable growth in trading activity in the first half of 2026. The average daily trading value rose by 45.1% to AED 1.004 billion, and the average number of daily transactions increased by 35.4% to approximately 18,759. Overall trading value surged to AED 119.5 billion during this period, marking a significant uptick in market engagement.
Market Performance Summary
The DFM Index closed the first half of 2026 at 5,955.58 points. Chairman of the DFM, Helal Saeed Al Marri, noted that the rise in trading activity and the substantial increase in total trading value underscore strong investor participation and the deepening of capital markets in Dubai. He attributed this to Dubai’s robust economic foundations and its expansive financial ecosystem, as well as consistent interest from international investors.
Second Quarter Insights
In the second quarter of the year, consolidated revenues totalled AED 303.9 million, compared to AED 702.5 million in the same quarter of 2025, with net profit before tax at AED 249.9 million, down from AED 642.2 million during that period.
Management Perspective
Hamed Ali, the CEO of DFM and NASDAQ Dubai, commented on the first half’s performance, highlighting the depth and resilience of the DFM alongside sustained liquidity levels and a diversified investor base. He emphasized the role of institutional and international investors in reinforcing confidence in investment opportunities available and the market’s infrastructure efficiency.
Future Outlook
The DFM attracted 42,864 new investors in the first six months of 2026, with foreign investors accounting for 71.4% of this group. Institutional investors comprised 71.2% of total trading value, a slight increase from 70.8% in the first half of 2025. Moreover, foreign investors represented 51% of trading activity, maintaining their significant presence in the DFM.
The overall market capitalisation for listed companies stood at AED 981.6 billion at the end of June 2026, a decrease from AED 995.6 billion at the end of the first half of 2025. Foreign ownership represented 20.06% of the total market value, slightly up from 20.04% in the previous year, while institutional ownership reached 86.5%.
Looking ahead, the DFM will continue to focus on enhancing liquidity levels, broadening market accessibility, and improving its infrastructure and product portfolio to support the ongoing development of Dubai’s capital markets.