Brokerages on Dubai Financial Market Add 32,170 New Investor Accounts in Jan–Apr 2026
Dubai Financial Market brokerages added 32,170 new investor accounts Jan–Apr 2026, driving AED164.76bn in trades and stronger flows.
The Dubai Financial Market recorded a sharp rise in investor participation during the first four months of 2026 as brokerage firms opened 32,170 new accounts. This increase reflects diverse investment options, improving corporate earnings and growing confidence in the emirate’s economy. Market records show the total number of accounts rose 18.98% year‑on‑year from 27,042 accounts in the same period of 2025.
Brokerages Register 32,170 New Investor Accounts in Jan–Apr 2026
Brokerage houses added the bulk of new accounts between January and April, with cumulative inflows concentrated in specific months and firms. The expansion in account numbers has been attributed to attractive valuations of local stocks and stronger quarterly results reported by listed companies.
Market participants and analysts said that increased retail participation and renewed institutional interest combined to broaden the investor base. Regulators and exchange officials have also pointed to improved market infrastructure and promotional outreach as supporting factors.
March Sees Largest Monthly Inflow with 12,837 Accounts
Monthly data show the largest single‑month increase occurred in March, when brokerages added 12,837 accounts. January and February recorded 6,339 and 5,644 new accounts respectively, while April contributed a further 7,356 accounts to the tally.
The March surge coincided with heightened trading activity and a cluster of strong corporate earnings announcements, which appear to have drawn new retail and existing investors back into the market. Observers noted that promotional campaigns and onboarding ease at several brokerages may have accelerated the March inflow.
BHM Capital Leads New Account Registrations
BHM Capital emerged as the top performer in account acquisition, registering 12,791 new investor accounts during the Jan–Apr period. Other notable intermediaries included Al Ramz Capital with 5,284 accounts, Abu Dhabi Islamic Securities with 4,389 accounts, Emirates NBD Securities with 3,213 accounts, and Mashreq Securities with 2,297 accounts.
The uneven distribution of new account openings indicates that a handful of active brokerage firms captured a large share of new retail demand. Industry sources said these firms combined competitive pricing, digital onboarding and local outreach to attract fresh clients.
Trading Activity Tops AED164.76 Billion in First Four Months
Trading volumes mirrored the surge in accounts, with brokerages executing more than 3.07 million trades on 44.61 billion shares from January through April. The aggregate value of those transactions exceeded AED164.76 billion, reflecting both higher volumes and considerable activity in large‑cap names.
Monthly performance underlined the market’s liquidity improvement, particularly in April when trading value reached AED42.8 billion. That month also saw 12.22 billion shares change hands across 874,060 executed deals, underscoring the sustained participation of both retail and institutional players.
EFG Hermes and Other Firms Dominate Trading Value
EFG Hermes – UAE accounted for the largest share of brokerage trading value in the Jan–Apr window, capturing 22.77% of the total or about AED37.52 billion. Arqaam (Afaq/Arqaam) Securities followed with AED19.94 billion (12.11%), Emirates NBD Securities with AED17.84 billion (10.83%), BHM Capital with AED17.08 billion (10.37%), and Abu Dhabi Islamic Securities with AED9.9 billion (6.02%).
April ranking showed a similar concentration: EFG Hermes led with AED9.31 billion (21.762% of the month’s brokerage trading value), Emirates NBD Securities posted AED4.86 billion (11.36%), BHM Capital AED4.07 billion (9.53%), Arqaam AED3.51 billion (8.39%), and Abu Dhabi Islamic Securities AED2.86 billion (6.7%). Market participants said the concentration of value among top brokers reflects their strong institutional client networks and market‑making capabilities.
Index Gains Point to Rising Investor Confidence
The Dubai Financial Market index closed April up 6.1% at 5,766.05 points, contributing roughly AED48.16 billion to market capitalisation during the month. The index’s rise has been cited by analysts as a barometer of improved earnings expectations and renewed appetite for UAE equities.
Commentators cautioned that while the current momentum is positive, markets remain sensitive to global risk factors and domestic liquidity shifts. They recommended continued monitoring of sectoral earnings, policy developments and foreign inflows to assess whether the inflows will be sustained into the second half of the year.
The combination of a near 19% year‑on‑year rise in accounts, heavy trading volumes and concentrated broker activity suggests Dubai’s equity market is entering a phase of broader participation and deeper liquidity, but experts say sustained gains will depend on corporate performance and macroeconomic stability.
