Iraq exchange enters live trading on Tabadul
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Iraq Stock Exchange has begun live trading through Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange’s Tabadul network, giving investors in Iraq direct access to securities listed in Abu Dhabi and opening the Iraqi market to eligible investors across the cross-border platform. ADX said on Tuesday that ISX had become the eighth market to go live on Tabadul, while the wider network now…
Dubai-based Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) has initiated live trading via Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange's Tabadul network, granting Iraqi investors direct access to securities listed on Abu Dhabi. This development marks ISX as the eighth market to join the Tabadul platform, which now spans 11 exchanges. Tabadul facilitates cross-border trading without the need for companies to undergo dual listings, with settlements made in local currencies and remote access for brokerage firms.
The network boasts a combined capitalization exceeding $1 trillion, over 700 listed companies, and more than 11 million registered investors. ADX CEO Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi emphasized the growing significance of direct investment channels as regional economies become increasingly interconnected, with Iraq's inclusion providing investors with a direct route to Iraqi-listed companies and widening capital flow opportunities.
Ali Jamal Amin, executive director of ISX, hailed the launch as a milestone in collaboration between the Iraqi and Abu Dhabi capital markets, facilitating cross-border investment and market integration. The agreement between ADX, ISX, and the Iraqi Securities Commission was signed in April 2025, with regulatory approval granted subsequently for domestic and foreign brokerage firms to access the platform.
ISX, headquartered in Baghdad, currently lists 103 companies with a market capitalization of $21.7 billion, encompassing equities, government bonds, and corporate debt. Tabadul, launched by ADX in July 2022, enables reciprocal market access through a digital exchange hub, with its trading value surpassing AED13.5 billion in the first half of 2026, surpassing the 2025 total.
The distinction between joining the network and going live is crucial, as Iraq's transition to live trading signifies the realization of the earlier integration agreement into market access for investors. Iraqi investors can now access ADX securities through participating intermediaries, while global investors can gain access to eligible Iraqi securities under the right brokerage and regulatory conditions.
ADX intends for Tabadul to bolster international connectivity and offer additional liquidity channels, covering sectors such as banking, finance, energy, and telecommunications.
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