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The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) marked its 25th anniversary recently, highlighting its transformation from a young domestic bourse into one of the world’s top 20 exchanges by market value.
Founded in 2000, the ADX has expanded from 12 listings to more than 200 securities and now exceeds Dhs3tn in market capitalisation.
The exchange has 1.2 million investors from over 200 nationalities, reinforcing its role as a key entry point for global capital into the UAE.
Earlier this year, the exchange formed the ADX Group, bringing together Abu Dhabi Clear and the Abu Dhabi Central Securities Depository.
The move is intended to streamline post-trade services and support Abu Dhabi’s plans to build a deeper and more competitive financial ecosystem.
Marking the milestone, Ghannam Al Mazrouei, chairman, the ADX Group, said: “Since our establishment in 2000, the ADX has served as a cornerstone supporting Abu Dhabi’s ambitious vision for a diversified, sustainable, and knowledge-based economy. Our market’s evolution has been extraordinary as a young exchange and financial sector. I remember the buzz when the ADX went “live” in November 2000. The first trade, from just 12 listed companies with only local investors, the ADX is now home to over 200 listed securities, serving global investors over 200 nationalities, and turning around a trading value of more than Dhs1bn daily.”
“The past 25 years reflect a journey of resilience, innovation and progress,” group CEO Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi said. “Our focus now is to build on this foundation, expand products, deepen liquidity and embrace technology.”
Abu Dhabi’s capital markets have accelerated sharply in recent years.
Since 2020, IPOs on the ADX have raised about Dhs59bn, supported by strong demand and steady economic growth. In 2023 alone, proceeds reached around Dhs18bn, placing the market among the world’s most active.
Nearly Dhs12.8bn were raised in 2024.
Dividend payouts have also risen. Listed companies have distributed more than Dhs320bn in cash dividends since 2020, delivering a compound annual growth rate of more than 33 per cent.
Read: ADX’s Marios Kampouridis on how the exchange is adopting advanced AI to enhance financial services
ADX marks milestone anniversary
To mark its anniversary, the ADX plans to introduce the FTSE ADX Dividend Stars Index, designed to track companies with strong dividend records.
Foreign and institutional participation has grown steadily. Since joining the MSCI Emerging Markets Index in 2014, the exchange has attracted foreign net investment of more than Dhs134bn.
Between 2020 and 2025, institutional investors generated over Dhs3tn in trading activity, while net inflows topped Dhs40bn.
UAE nationals have traded more than Dhs2.5tn over the same period, with foreign investors exceeding Dhs1.2tn.
The financial exchange is also pushing regional connectivity. Its Tabadul platform links six Middle East markets, widening access for issuers and investors and strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position in cross-border capital flows.
Innovation remains a key pillar. The exchange has introduced several regional firsts, including ETFs, foreign sovereign bonds, blockchain-enabled e-voting and a blockchain-based digital bond. It continues to invest in digital market infrastructure and trading technology as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
Alongside market development, the financial exchange is marking the anniversary with initiatives focused on financial literacy and sustainability. They include the launch of an Intelligence Lab at Liwa University, support for female investor programmes, and planting Ghaf trees to honour current and former staff and stakeholders.
The exchange said it will continue to broaden investment options, advance market infrastructure and reinforce governance standards as it moves into its next quarter-century.
