Arab Capital Markets Surge Past $825 Billion in Trading Value
Arab capital markets demonstrated robust resilience and growth during the first nine months of 2026, recording unprecedented trading volumes whilst maintaining market stability amid regional uncertainty.
Trading activity across Arab capital markets reached approximately US$825 billion during the opening nine months of 2026, representing an impressive 18 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. This expansion underscores the region’s financial resilience and continued capacity to drive economic growth and investment opportunities.
The combined market capitalisation of Arab capital markets stood at roughly $4.3 trillion as of September’s conclusion, reflecting sustained market dynamism despite geopolitical volatility. Dr. Fadi Kanso, Secretary General of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets, highlighted these achievements whilst addressing the AFCM Annual Conference in Abu Dhabi, noting that trading activity had grown from approximately $700 billion in the first nine months of 2025 to $825 billion this year.
Trading volumes demonstrated particularly strong performance, expanding to 1.5 trillion shares with transaction numbers reaching 135 million—a ten per cent increase year-on-year. These figures illustrate the deepening market participation and confidence of investors across the Arab world.
Dr. Kanso characterised 2026 as a year of profound testing, with markets experiencing three distinct phases: an encouraging beginning during the initial two months, followed by a period of repricing and risk adjustment, and subsequently a phase of relative stabilisation and cautious expansion. He emphasised that whilst markets are conventionally assessed by their size and liquidity during tranquil periods, their true measure emerges during periods of crisis—through their operational efficiency, companies’ continued market access, and infrastructure’s capacity to withstand elevated volatility.
Ghannam Butti Almazrouei, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group, observed that global investment patterns increasingly favour markets combining growth potential, operational stability and crisis resilience. The Abu Dhabi exchange itself demonstrated considerable strength, with aggregate profits of ADX-listed companies rising 38 per cent during the first half of 2026, whilst dividend distributions reached approximately $14 billion.
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group and Chairman of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets, underscored the importance of deepening integration amongst Arab markets. He noted that whilst individual Arab exchanges may appear modest in isolation, their collective scale represents a substantial force on the global investment landscape. His remarks highlighted a pressing need to develop technologies and mechanisms facilitating faster market access—currently requiring between three and six months in some instances.
The Tabadul platform, connecting approximately twelve Arab markets following Iraq Stock Exchange’s inclusion, exemplifies such integration efforts. Trading value through this connectivity platform has surpassed AED13 billion, enabling local investors direct trading access across connected exchanges through their home brokers. Memoranda of understanding with the Egyptian Exchange and Damascus Securities Exchange signal further expansion of regional market connectivity.
Source: WAM News Agency