Dubai Financial Market large direct trades top AED 6.26bn in Jan–Jul 2026
DFM large direct trades hit 107 deals worth AED 6.26bn in Jan–Jul 2026 across 1.73bn shares and 15 listed companies, adding liquidity.
A total of 107 large direct trades were executed on the Dubai Financial Market during January–July 2026, together amounting to more than AED 6.26 billion. The activity, recorded across 15 listed firms, involved roughly 1.73 billion shares and underscores a notable use of off‑order‑book transactions by major investors. The surge in block trades reflects concentrated activity in a handful of issuers, with Ittihad Energy Holding and Amanat Holdings among the most heavily transacted names.
Market tally for January–July 2026
The Dubai Financial Market recorded 107 block trades in the first seven months of 2026, according to market data compiled for this report. These transactions were executed outside the public order book and are categorized as direct large trades for regulatory and reporting purposes.
Collectively the deals involved about 1.73 billion shares and totalled AED 6.26 billion, signalling a significant flow of negotiated share transfers. The concentration of volume in a small number of issuers was a defining feature of the period.
Largest contributors by volume and value
Ittihad Energy Holding accounted for the single largest share of activity, with 48 direct deals covering some 796.92 million shares valued at AED 1.979 billion. That company alone represented a substantial portion of the total volume traded through block deals.
Amanat Holdings followed with 16 transactions that transferred 503.78 million shares for AED 607.01 million. GFH Financial Group registered 11 block trades involving 124.59 million shares at a combined value of approximately AED 271.26 million.
Notable transactions across listed companies
Mashreq Bank saw eight direct trades covering 9.25 million shares reported at about AED 2.925 billion in aggregate value. BHM Capital Financial Services recorded six deals on 14.97 million shares with a reported value near AED 15.02 million.
Union Properties was the subject of six block trades moving 112.89 million shares for AED 82.01 million, while Alec Holding had three deals on 18.96 million shares at AED 26.17 million. Dubai Investments saw two direct trades involving 14.3 million shares valued at AED 56.79 million.
Smaller but significant negotiated deals
Several mid‑cap and consumer names also featured in the direct trade list, contributing materially to total turnover. Taaleem Holdings had a single large transaction moving 35.84 million shares for AED 142.28 million, highlighting interest in the education sector.
Unikai Foods and United Foods were involved in transactions of 11.29 million shares (about AED 74.5 million) and 2.81 million shares (about AED 32.03 million) respectively. Shuaa Capital recorded a sizeable block trade moving 60.33 million shares for AED 13.27 million.
Regulatory treatment of direct large trades on DFM
Direct large trades on the Dubai Financial Market are executed outside the visible order book and therefore do not alter the official closing price of the securities involved. These negotiated transactions are excluded from the calculation of intraday highs and lows and are not counted toward the 52‑week high/low statistics published for listed shares.
As a consequence, block trades can transfer significant stakes without directly shifting the market’s published price metrics. Market participants typically use the mechanism to facilitate large transfers while minimising immediate public price impact.
What the activity means for investors and issuers
The volume of direct large trades through July 2026 signals active portfolio rebalancing and concentrated stake movements among institutional and strategic investors. For issuers, negotiated trades can help redistribute ownership without triggering abrupt market price reactions.
For retail investors the presence of frequent block trades may indicate shifting major-shareholder positions, which can be relevant for longer‑term governance and liquidity considerations. Analysts and market watchers will monitor whether this pattern continues through the remainder of 2026 and how it correlates with corporate announcements or broader market trends.
The prevalence of off‑book transactions in the first seven months of 2026 highlights an efficient channel for moving large volumes while preserving market order continuity. Observers say the feature will remain an important component of trading activity as institutional investors manage positions in a dynamic UAE equity market.