Arab capital markets poised to attract long-term investment, says Abdullah Salem Al Nuaimi
Abdullah Salem Al Nuaimi outlines plans to accelerate integration and institutional investment across Arab capital markets, prioritising regulatory reform.
Abdullah Salem Al Nuaimi, newly appointed chairman of the Union of Arab Capital Markets and chief executive of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, said the Arab capital markets are well positioned to become a stable destination for long-term capital. He pointed to strong sovereign balance sheets, clear growth fundamentals and supportive policy frameworks as core strengths that can be converted into sustained investor confidence. His appointment, he said, reflects growing recognition of the advances Arab markets have made and carries a mandate to translate momentum into broader, region-wide progress.
Al Nuaimi highlights region’s institutional strengths
Al Nuaimi told UAE state media that abundant sovereign resources and coherent economic plans give Arab markets a comparative advantage in an uncertain global environment. He said those strengths must be backed by institutional frameworks that turn macro capacity into investor trust and deeper market liquidity. The ADX chief argued that durable confidence will depend on predictable regulation, robust post-trade infrastructure and governance consistent with international standards.
Market evolution: from retail to institutional depth
The chairman described a structural shift across markets from retail-led participation to greater institutional involvement and international integration. He cited recent initial public offerings in the Gulf and the inclusion of regional indices in global benchmarks as indicators of rising market quality and investor appetite. According to Al Nuaimi, deeper institutional custody, stronger order books and larger-scale listings are changing how capital is allocated across the region.
Integration and mutual recognition top the agenda
A central pillar of Al Nuaimi’s agenda is stronger connectivity between Arab exchanges through mutually recognised rules and harmonised listing and disclosure standards. He said unified approaches to admission and reporting would make the region more attractive to global asset managers and sovereign investors. The proposed measures include developing mutual recognition frameworks, aligning disclosure norms and facilitating cross-border clearing and settlement to lower barriers for international participation.
Product expansion to meet institutional demand
Al Nuaimi stressed the need to broaden the toolkit available to investors by expanding markets for fixed income, derivatives, sukuk and regulated digital asset instruments. He argued that a diversified product set is essential to retain capital and to allow institutional managers to construct appropriate asset allocations locally. The chairman also highlighted the role of ESG-aligned instruments and governance-linked products in attracting sophisticated, long-term investors.
Regulatory coordination and infrastructure gaps remain priorities
While signalling progress, Al Nuaimi was candid about persistent fragmentation in regulation, data standards and market infrastructure across Arab jurisdictions. He said addressing these gaps is a strategic priority for the union because they limit cross-border flows and increase operational costs for global investors. Strengthening regulatory coordination, standardising data and advancing unified post-trade systems were identified as short-to-medium-term tasks to preserve the recent momentum.
Capacity building, research and measurable outcomes
The union’s approach, Al Nuaimi said, will pair regulatory reform with investment in research, market education and capacity building for member exchanges. He emphasised measurable outcomes, noting that integration and competitiveness efforts must translate into tangible indicators such as increased institutional inflows, deeper secondary markets and a broader range of listed products. The chairman framed these initiatives as essential to raising the global standing of Arab capital markets and ensuring benefits are distributed across member states.
Abdullah Salem Al Nuaimi concluded that the transformation now underway should be inclusive and region-wide, not concentrated in a handful of centres, and he committed the union to shepherding reforms that will help Arab capital markets capture a larger share of institutional global capital over the coming years.
