UAE stock markets draw AED 10.5bn in weekly trading as banks lift investor sentiment
UAE stock markets drew AED 10.5bn in weekly trading as Dubai and Abu Dhabi indices rose, with market capitalisation reaching AED 3.77 trillion on robust bank earnings.
The UAE stock markets attracted more than AED 10.5 billion in liquidity during last week’s trading, supported by strong bank results and sustained investor interest. Trading activity totaled approximately 3.77 billion shares across more than 217,000 transactions, reflecting heightened engagement from both institutional and retail participants. Market capitalisation for listed equities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi stood near AED 3.77 trillion at the close of the week, underscoring the depth of local markets.
Trading activity surpassed AED 10.5 billion last week
AED 4.24 billion of the weekly turnover was recorded on the Dubai Financial Market, while the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange accounted for AED 6.26 billion. Investors executed roughly 217,436 deals across the two bourses, transacting about 3.77 billion shares in total. This distribution highlights a stronger liquidity concentration in Abu Dhabi despite significant activity in Dubai.
Market capitalisation reached AED 3.77 trillion
By the end of the week, the combined capitalisation of listed companies on the two exchanges was near AED 3.77 trillion. Abu Dhabi-listed stocks represented about AED 2.81 trillion of that total, while Dubai-listed stocks stood at roughly AED 959.67 billion. The split reflects Abu Dhabi’s larger share of heavyweight listings and sustained institutional interest.
Indices closed higher with Dubai at 5,854.19 and Abu Dhabi at 9,788.84
The Dubai index closed the week at 5,854.19 points, up 0.69 percent or 40.15 points on the session, delivering estimated gains equivalent to AED 8.5 billion. That session saw trading of 197.62 million shares through 16,440 transactions with a turnover of about AED 709.22 million. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s index rose 0.43 percent, or 42.14 points, to close at 9,788.84, on volumes of 373.06 million shares and turnover of roughly AED 1.09 billion.
Liquidity concentrated in Abu Dhabi with stronger turnover
Abu Dhabi’s larger turnover and higher market cap point to concentrated liquidity in its blue‑chip names and banking stocks. The heavier participation in Abu Dhabi reflects both corporate fundamentals and investor preference for the emirate’s major listed groups. Dubai’s market continues to show breadth in mid-cap and sector-specific plays, supporting overall market depth.
Bank earnings underpin market resilience amid geopolitical pressures
Market participants noted that recent quarterly results from major lenders helped sustain confidence despite regional geopolitical tensions. Positive earnings from large banks, including First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Emirates NBD, were cited as key drivers supporting the financial sector. A trading manager at a UAE securities firm observed that the banking results signalled resilience in the sector through the first quarter, helping absorb external pressures.
Central bank measures and sector leadership to guide near-term performance
Analysts point to supportive monetary measures and liquidity‑enhancing policies from the central bank as contributing factors behind the market’s recovery earlier in March. Looking ahead, the primary sectors likely to steer performance include banking, real estate and telecommunications, along with heavyweight listed companies that tend to lead index movements. Continued announcements of first‑quarter results are expected to be the immediate catalyst for further market direction.
Market observers say the coming weeks may show a partial decoupling between headline geopolitical risk and domestic market performance, with corporate earnings and policy support shaping investor sentiment. Monitoring upcoming earnings releases and liquidity flows will be central to assessing whether current momentum can be sustained into the second quarter.
