Dubai Financial Market reported a net profit before tax of AED443.2 million for the first half of 2026, as trading activity surged across the exchange. The entity announced consolidated financial results for the six-month period ending June 30, 2026, showing a shift in market conditions despite a slight dip in overall market capitalization. DFM’s General Index closed the period at 5,955.58 points, reflecting a period of high volume and liquidity.
Activity on DFM increased significantly during the first half of 2026, with investors trading more frequently and at greater value. The total traded value rose by 40.4% to AED119.5 billion. This surge was driven by a substantial increase in average daily traded value, which climbed by 45.1% to AED1.004 billion. Average daily trades also increased by 35.4% to approximately 18,759.
DFM recorded 2.23 million total trades, an increase of 31%, spread across 119 trading days. The average daily traded value in 2026 was approximately 45% above the AED692 million recorded in 2025, a figure that represented the highest level of liquidity in more than a decade. Market capitalization stood at AED981.6 billion at the end of June 2026, down 1.4% from the same period the previous year.
Related: UAE funds to invest in India
DFM’s total consolidated revenue reached AED557 million during the first half of 2026, a decrease from AED888.9 million in H1 2025. The company attributes this drop to a one-off income from the sale of an investment property in H1 2025 of AED462.2 million. Excluding this one-off transaction, operating income stood at AED384.8 million, with investment returns and other income totaling AED172.2 million.
Net profit before tax stood at AED443.2 million, compared with AED777.1 million in H1 2025. Expenses excluding tax were AED113.8 million, compared with AED111.8 million in the previous year. This reflects continued investment in market infrastructure and technology while maintaining management’s commitment to spending efficiency.
Looking at the second quarter specifically, DFM recorded total consolidated revenue of AED303.9 million, compared with AED702.5 million in Q2 2025. Net profit before tax stood at AED249.9 million during the quarter, down from AED642.2 million in the same period the previous year.
Related: Crystal Palace sports centre to get £130m upgrade
Helal Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of DFM, said the increase in trading activity reflects sustained investor engagement and the growing depth of Dubai’s capital markets. He added that the sustained engagement is supported by Dubai’s economic fundamentals and expanding financial ecosystem. Al Marri noted that DFM will continue to advance transparent, liquid and globally connected capital markets to reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading international financial centre.
DFM’s ability to maintain high liquidity and attract a diverse mix of investors suggests the exchange is functioning efficiently despite the revenue dip. The focus remains on broadening investment opportunities and strengthening market infrastructure to support the continued development of the region’s capital markets. Hamed Ali, CEO of DFM and Nasdaq Dubai, emphasized that the participation of institutional and international investors demonstrates continued confidence in the quality of opportunities available and the efficiency of the market infrastructure.
Leave a Reply