The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) announced blockbuster consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, reporting a stunning net profit before tax of AED 1.06 billion. This impressive outcome, driven by surging trading values, increasing international investor interest, and strategic market enhancements, underscores Dubai’s reinforcing role as a resilient and dynamic global capital hub as the exchange celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Market Surges Reflect Investor Confidence
The 2025 financial performance marked a significant victory for the DFM, demonstrating robust stability and growth confidence within the emirate’s economic framework. Net profit before tax soared to AED 1.06 billion, dramatically outpacing the AED 409.3 million reported in 2024. Total consolidated revenues for 2025 reached AED 1.28 billion, supported by diversified revenue streams and rigorous cost management. The strong performance was sustained through the fourth quarter, which generated AED 124.4 million in net profit before tax.
Throughout the year, the DFM General Index (DFMGI) climbed by 17.2%, while total market capitalization neared an impressive AED 1 trillion, landing at AED 992 billion. Reflecting on this milestone year, Helal Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of DFM, emphasized that the results validated “the continued strength of Dubai’s capital markets and the confidence of global investors in the emirate’s economic vision,” aligning with the ambitious goals set by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Liquidity and International Participation Accelerate
Enhanced market infrastructure and heightened activity resulted in the highest liquidity levels seen in over a decade. The total traded value for 2025 reached AED 174 billion, with the average daily traded value hitting AED 692 million.
Key indicators of market vibrancy included:
- Trading Frequency: The average daily number of trades increased by 31% year-on-year, primarily fueled by greater institutional and cross-border trading engagement.
- New Investors: The DFM attracted 97,394 new investors in 2025, with foreign investors representing 84% of this influx.
- Global Trust: Foreign investors contributed 51% of total trading value, highlighting the exchange’s trusted international appeal. Institutional investors accounted for a substantial 71% of all trading activity.
Hamed Ali, CEO of DFM and Nasdaq Dubai, noted that the exchange remains committed to improving market accessibility and efficiency for both issuers and investors, marking 25 years of sustained development in line with Dubai’s long-term capital markets objectives.
Capital Formation Drives Sectoral Diversification
The DFM proved to be a critical venue for attracting strategic capital and expanding sectoral depth. The year saw several high-profile listings and offerings that generated intense institutional and retail interest:
- Dubai Residential REIT: The region’s first publicly listed residential leasing REIT saw its IPO significantly oversubscribed by 26 times, attracting AED 56 billion in demand.
- ALEC Holdings IPO: The largest construction sector listing in the UAE generated AED 30 billion in subscriptions, oversubscribed 21 times.
- Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du): A successful secondary public offering enhanced liquidity and free float, attracting robust demand.
These transactions collectively broadened the DFM’s footprint across real estate, telecommunications, and construction, showcasing its ability to support fundraising across diverse economic segments.
Investing in Infrastructure and Global Connectivity
Innovation was central to DFM’s strategy, including the introduction of a centralized Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLB) framework aimed at increasing liquidity and enabling complex trading strategies. Digital infrastructure was also strengthened with enhancements to the iVestor platform, integrating AI-enabled access to market data for greater transparency.
The DFM further strengthened its global outreach by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) to foster collaboration on cross-border listings and knowledge exchange, focusing on enhancing connectivity with key Asian markets. Coupled with successful global roadshows in financial centers like New York and London, the DFM is proactively reinforcing its position as a central gateway linking regional economic growth with international capital.
Moving forward, the DFM is poised for continued expansion, focusing on scaling product offerings, deepening global ties, and leveraging its solid financial foundation to support the ongoing evolution of Dubai’s capital markets.