Why Dubai has become a city of retail traders

Dubai has transformed into a city of retail traders, driven by significant growth in trading activity and the influence of high-profile figures like President Donald Trump. Trading volumes in the Dubai Financial Market surged 40% year-on-year in 2026's first half, reaching $32.5 billion, while Abu Dhabi's exchange handled $46.6 billion in trades.

This boom goes beyond the geopolitical factors, as the city attracts risk-takers and wealthy expats from around the world, creating an environment receptive to retail investing. Tarik Chebib, Capital.com's Middle East CEO, notes that conversations about brokerage accounts have become more common, with many new clients arriving already having experience in trading.

The UAE's retail trading market has now reached the size of Singapore, a remarkable shift for a market that barely registered internationally five years ago. As traders bet on various assets, including oil, AI, and U.S. equities, Donald Trump's statements continue to move this sophisticated and heavily invested audience, becoming one of the Gulf's most powerful trading signals.