Market AccessData
UAE licensed firms rise 43% as market capitalisation reaches Dh3.7tn
Accredited professionals increase 64% in first nine months of 2026 as regulator reports expanded oversight.
Companies holding licences from the UAE Capital Market Authority numbered 43 per cent more in the first nine months of 2026 than in the same period a year earlier, while the count of accredited professionals climbed 64 per cent. Market capitalisation across the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market totalled Dh3.7 trillion at the end of September, the CMA said on 27 October.
Traded value and foreign participation#
Traded value over the nine months reached Dh408 billion. Foreign investors contributed 49 per cent of that total. The ADX general index and the DFM general index both finished September above their levels from a year earlier, while volatility declined in the third quarter. Issuances of bonds and sukuk amounted to Dh576 billion during the period, and capital increases by companies totalled about Dh3.4 billion.
Investment funds expansion#
The count of local funds reached 97, an increase of 94 per cent, with assets under management at Dh28.6 billion, up 30 per cent. Federal Decree-Laws No. 32 and 33 of 2025 took effect on 1 January 2026. The legislation strengthens the CMA's independence as a regulator, expands its supervisory authority, and introduces additional mechanisms for protecting investors and maintaining market stability.
Enforcement and regulatory activity#
The total value of financial penalties imposed during the nine months was Dh12.9 million, a 23 per cent increase, while the number of such penalties rose 246 per cent year-on-year. Warnings issued by the regulator increased 767 per cent. Complaints handled climbed 192 per cent, and refunds to clients amounted to Dh1.2 billion, compared with Dh8 million in the corresponding period of 2025.
New regulatory instruments#
The authority issued six regulatory instruments over the nine-month period. These included the Virtual Assets Regulatory Framework, capital requirements aligned with Basel III standards, and expanded provisions for the use of collateral. In the third quarter, 102 virtual assets were registered for admission to trading through the CMA's digital service. Seven further legislative proposals are in development, and a consultation paper on corporate governance disclosure has been published.
Sources1 source across 1 domain
- khaleejtimes.comKhaleej Times43% increase in licensed firms, 64% rise in accredited professionals, Dh3.7 trillion market capitalisation, Dh408 billion traded value, 49% foreign investor participation, Dh576 billion bond and sukuk issuances, 94% increase in local funds to 97, Dh28.6 billion assets under management, Federal Decre
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