UBS steps into Abu Dhabi’s capital markets as ADX deepens global reach

The Swiss investment bank joins the exchange as its second international remote trading member, reflecting surging worldwide appetite for exposure to the UAE's financial ecosystem

The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange has taken another stride in its evolution as a conduit for global capital, welcoming UBS Investment Bank as its second international remote trading member. The appointment, effective from 3 November 2026, represents a significant moment in the exchange’s endeavour to connect its listed securities with the world’s most sophisticated institutional investors.

For UBS, the move opens direct pathways to Abu Dhabi’s capital market for its clients, enabling more fluid execution decisions and more efficient trading and settlement across their global portfolios. The Swiss bank becomes part of a broadening international infrastructure that reflects the mounting appetite among institutional investors for exposure to UAE-listed companies, despite the currents of macroeconomic uncertainty that have characterised recent years.

Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of the ADX Group, noted that the addition of UBS reinforces the exchange’s commitment to widening market access and deepening its investor base. “As a multi-asset exchange, ADX will keep strengthening its market infrastructure to attract global capital, support capital raising, and advance Abu Dhabi’s vision of a diversified, long-term economy,” he said.

The figures underlying this expansion tell a compelling story. Institutional participation accounted for 78 per cent of total trading value, while foreign investors represented 47 per cent of gross trade value during the first ten months of 2026. These proportions underline a market increasingly shaped by sophisticated global capital flows, not merely local activity.

Ahmed Badr, Managing Director and Head of Global Markets Execution Services in the MENA region at UBS Investment Bank, described the remote membership as complementing the capital market products the bank offers across its global franchise. It represents, in essence, a deepening of the connective tissue between Abu Dhabi’s financial markets and the world’s institutional investment landscape.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

This appointment signals Abu Dhabi’s growing prominence within the international investment community. As global demand for exposure to UAE capital markets continues to accelerate, the exchange’s ability to attract major international financial institutions like UBS strengthens its position as a destination for serious capital flows. The remote trading model removes geographical barriers, allowing major global banks to facilitate their clients’ participation in Abu Dhabi’s securities without requiring physical presence on the exchange floor.

For Abu Dhabi itself, the expansion of foreign institutional participation supports the broader economic diversification strategy that underpins the emirate’s long-term development vision. As UAE-listed companies gain access to more international capital sources, they enhance their capacity for growth and expansion, creating opportunities that ripple through the economy and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s standing as a centre of financial sophistication and opportunity in the region.

Source: WAM

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