The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) marked its 25th anniversary with a transformational year that reshaped Abu Dhabi’s capital markets, strengthened global connectivity and delivered record market performance.
During 2025, total market capitalisation on ADX surpassed AED3.1 trillion (US$844.11 billion), reflecting the exchange’s growing depth and importance within regional and global capital markets. Trading activity also gathered pace, with total trading value exceeding AED385 billion (US$104.8 billion), representing year-on-year growth of 12.6 per cent.
Average daily trading rose to AED1.52 billion (US$414.1 million), pointing to stronger liquidity and broader participation across investor segments.
A central milestone of the year was the establishment of the ADX Group, which brought together the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Abu Dhabi Clear and Abu Dhabi Central Securities Depository under a single, integrated structure. The move aligned ADX more closely with developed market standards by delivering a unified trading, clearing and settlement framework capable of supporting multiple asset classes on one platform.
New engine lifts trading capacity
The exchange also rolled out a new high-performance trading engine, boosting system performance by 400 per cent. The upgrade integrated equities, exchange-traded funds, debt instruments and derivatives, improving market efficiency, resilience and cross-market connectivity while supporting increased trading volumes.
ADX delivered several market firsts during the year. It became the first exchange in the Arab world to cross-list US-domiciled exchange-traded funds listed on the New York Stock Exchange, representing around $10 billion in assets under management. The exchange also launched the region’s first thematic ETFs focused on quantum computing and artificial intelligence, alongside the MENA region’s first distributed ledger technology-based digital bond.
Strong corporate performance underpinned market growth. Listed companies generated around AED140 billion (US$38.12 billion) in aggregate net profit during the first nine months of 2025, an increase of about 19 per cent year on year. Cash dividends distributed during the year reached AED74 billion (US$20.15 billion), reinforcing ADX’s appeal to income-focused investors and highlighting the strength of listed corporates.
Investor participation continued to expand in both scale and diversity. More than 1.2 million investors from over 200 nationalities are now active on the exchange, reflecting growing international interest in Abu Dhabi’s capital markets. Accessibility was further enhanced through digital integration with Abu Dhabi’s TAMM government services platform and partnerships with global trading and investment platforms.
ADX also advanced investor education and market literacy through initiatives such as the launch of a Market Intelligence Lab at Liwa University and enhancements to its virtual trading platform.
Looking ahead, ADX said it will build on the momentum of its anniversary year by deepening value, further enhancing digital market infrastructure and supporting long-term capital formation as part of Abu Dhabi’s broader economic vision.
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