The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) posted its strongest quarterly performance in more than a decade, with Average Daily Trading Value (ADTV) reaching a 12-year high of AED 663 million in Q1 2025 — a 67% jump compared to the same period last year. Total traded value for the quarter rose 61% to AED 41 billion, up from AED 25.5 billion in Q1 2024.
Record Trading Activity Drives DFM's Q1 2025 Results
The exchange averaged approximately 13,400 daily trades throughout the quarter, with trading volumes climbing 33% year-on-year. Market capitalisation of listed companies stood at AED 897 billion at the end of March, broadly unchanged year-on-year.
Total consolidated income for Q1 2025 reached AED 186.5 million, compared to AED 148.1 million in Q1 2024. Operating income contributed AED 86 million, while investments and other sources added AED 100.5 million. Net profit before tax came in at AED 134.9 million, against AED 95.6 million a year earlier, while operating expenses edged down to AED 51.6 million.
Foreign and Institutional Investors Lead the Surge
New investor registrations reached 19,366 during Q1 2025, with 86% coming from outside the UAE. Foreign investors accounted for 53% of total trading value, while institutional investors represented 72% of activity — up from 65% in the same quarter of 2024.
Leadership Highlights Dubai's Position as a Global Financial Hub
DFM Chairman Helal Saeed Al Marri said the results reflect how "Dubai's dynamic financial markets have solidified Dubai's position as a global financial center," adding that the exchange remains committed to transparency, innovation, and long-term stakeholder value.
CEO Hamed Ali, who also heads Nasdaq Dubai, said the figures demonstrate "enhancing faith from institutional investors combined with foreign investors," and pledged continued focus on "improving market liquidity and developing long-term participant value."
The record Dubai Financial Market Q1 2025 performance underscores the emirate's growing appeal as a destination for international capital, with foreign participation and institutional depth both trending higher heading into the second quarter.
