Emirati women’s ADX holdings reach Dh39bn

At the end of July, Arab women collectively held shares valued at around Dh39 billion on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), constituting 94% of all shares owned by women in the market. Nearly 125,000 active Emirati women investors were participating on ADX, highlighting their growing influence in the UAE's capital markets. This substantial participation comes as Abu Dhabi aims to deepen its capital markets and broaden engagement, alongside continued expansion of both local and foreign investment.

The total value of shares held by Emirati women on ADX was approximately Dh41.5 billion at the end of July, indicating the significant role that domestic investors play despite the exchange's increasingly international investor base. These figures were emphasized during activities surrounding Emirati Women's Day, observed from August 28 to September 28 under the theme "We Emerge Stronger and Better."

The UAE has expanded the observance into a month-long program focusing on women's economic participation, leadership, and financial independence.

Emirati women form about 70% of investors in UAE securities markets, contributing approximately 93% of the total value owned by women. Their influence extends beyond listed equities, as over 25,000 Emirati businesswomen hold over 50,000 commercial licenses, with total investments exceeding Dh60 billion. Property has emerged as a significant asset class, with Emirati women recording Dh2.7 billion in real estate transactions in Sharjah during the first half of 2026.

ADX's market capitalization stood at about Dh2.8 trillion at the end of June, with trading value reaching Dh171 billion during the first half of 2026. The exchange saw a 7.1% increase in new registrations, with 30,000 new investors joining, 77% of whom were foreign investors. UAE nationals represented 52% of total trading value, while institutional investors accounted for 78%.

Individual transactions rose by 12% to nearly 3.3 million, and overall traded volume increased by 3.7% to 50.3 billion shares, with daily volume advancing by 9% to around 423 million shares. The exchange also introduced six additional single-stock futures in July, increasing its derivatives offering to 17 products covering various sectors.

ADX's Group Chief Executive Officer, Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, emphasized that Emirati women are advancing the economy through their resilience, ambition, and capacity to drive innovation. Women now comprise about 40% of the ADX workforce, and the company has implemented programs to develop female professionals and enhance their progression into leadership roles.