Dubai Financial Market attracts 55,630 new investor accounts in January–July 2026
Dubai Financial Market records 55,630 new investor accounts Jan–July 2026 as trading value reaches AED 263.69bn; July adds 11,366 accounts, up 50.7% YoY
The Dubai Financial Market recorded 55,630 new investor accounts in the first seven months of 2026, driven by rising investor confidence and strong corporate performance. The surge in new accounts, reported by Dubai Financial Market data, coincided with a notable increase in trading value and activity across the bourse.
Net new investor accounts hit 55,630 in Jan–July 2026
The total of 55,630 new accounts represents a year‑on‑year increase of 7.14% compared with 51,918 accounts opened during the same period in 2025. This inflow reflects sustained retail and institutional interest in Dubai equities during the January to July window.
Market sources point to a combination of diversified investment options, attractive local share valuations and solid quarterly results from listed firms as principal factors encouraging new entrants. The growth also aligns with broader efforts to deepen capital‑market participation in the emirate.
Monthly inflows highlight March and July peaks
New account openings were uneven across the seven months, with March and July recording the largest monthly inflows. The month‑by‑month breakdown shows 6,339 accounts in January, 5,644 in February, 12,837 in March, 7,356 in April, 5,210 in May, 6,874 in June and 11,366 in July.
March’s spike and July’s strong showing illustrate episodic surges in onboarding that often correspond with market events, earnings seasons, or targeted brokerage campaigns. Industry participants say these peaks also reflect growing awareness among retail investors of opportunities on the Dubai bourse.
Brokerages compete for retail flows; BHM Capital leads
BHM Capital Financial Services captured the largest share of the new accounts during the seven‑month period, registering 18,271 new client accounts. Emirates NBD Securities followed with 12,114 accounts, then Al Ramz Capital with 7,773, Abu Dhabi Islamic Securities with 6,827 and Mashreq Securities with 3,689.
The concentration of account openings among a handful of brokerages highlights robust distribution networks and marketing efforts by leading firms. Brokers that combine digital onboarding, advisory services and market‑making capabilities appear to attract a broader segment of new investors.
Trading activity: 5.06 million trades and AED 263.69bn value Jan–July
Brokerage firms executed 5.06 million trades on the Dubai Financial Market in the January–July period, covering 72.76 billion shares with a total traded value of AED 263.69 billion. The volume and value figures underscore elevated liquidity on the exchange in the first seven months of 2026.
Financial Group Hermes – UAE led broker contributions by value, accounting for 24.67% of brokerage‑executed trade value, equivalent to AED 63.67 billion. Emirates NBD Securities held an 11.59% share (AED 30.56bn), Arqaam Securities 11.53% (AED 30.40bn), BHM Capital 9.84% (AED 25.95bn) and BHM Capital’s market‑making arm 5.49% (AED 14.48bn).
July performance: strong monthly surge in accounts and liquidity
July continued the momentum with 11,366 new accounts, a 50.7% increase compared with 7,542 accounts in July 2025. Trading activity for the month reached AED 24.74 billion in value, with 7.49 billion shares changing hands across 580,720 executed trades.
In July brokerage market shares by value were led by Financial Group Hermes – UAE at 23.05% (AED 5.7bn), followed by Arqaam Securities at 12.62% (AED 3.12bn), BHM Capital at 10.99% (AED 2.7bn), Emirates NBD Securities at 9.93% (AED 2.45bn) and BHM Capital’s market‑making unit at 6.65% (AED 1.64bn). The distribution highlights active participation among both international and regional firms.
Investor confidence and market drivers
Market participants attribute the rise in new accounts to a mix of macroeconomic stability in the emirate, continued corporate earnings delivery and expanding product choices for investors. Observers also note that enhanced digital onboarding and promotional campaigns by brokerages have reduced barriers for retail participation.
Analysts say sustained liquidity and clear leadership among brokerages help reassure new entrants, while periodic price opportunities across key sectors stimulate account openings. Regulators’ ongoing efforts to bolster market infrastructure and transparency are also cited as contributing factors.
The recent inflows and elevated trading activity signal a strengthening ecosystem for equities in Dubai, with brokers and listed companies both benefiting from broader investor engagement. The coming months will test whether this momentum sustains through the remainder of 2026 as markets absorb global macro trends and local corporate developments.
