Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has released its consolidated financial results for the six-month period ending June 30, 2025, revealing a net profit before tax of AED777.1 million ($211.6 million), which marks a remarkable increase of 298 percent compared to the same period in 2024. This growth underscores robust investor confidence and the ongoing expansion of Dubai’s capital markets.
During this period, DFM experienced strong market performance, with the DFM General Index (DFMGI) climbing by 10.6 percent. This surge reflects both the strength of the local market and a broader global trend toward resilient, growth-oriented markets.
The total market capitalization also saw a solid increase of 9.7 percent year-on-year, reaching AED995 billion ($270.9 billion).
Increased trading activity
In a statement regarding DFM’s performance, Helal Saeed Al Marri, chairman of DFM, remarked, “DFM delivered a positive performance in the first half of 2025, underpinned by growing market depth and investor engagement. The rise in the DFM General Index, alongside sustained participation from institutional and foreign investors, is set against the backdrop of a dynamic Dubai economy, where record real estate activity, growing hedge fund presence, and increased capital flows have reinforced the emirate’s status as a global financial hub. The 3rd edition of our Annual Capital Market Summit, held in May, further highlighted DFM’s global standing, attracting more than 1,500 leading international and regional market participants and setting the stage for continued innovation and growth. Looking ahead, we will continue enhancing our market infrastructure and diversifying our offerings to support sustained market growth.”
DFM’s total consolidated revenue surged by 191 percent to AED888.9 million ($242 million) in the first half of 2025, supported by a robust increase in operating income and solid investment returns, along with one-off income from the sale of an investment property. Expenses, excluding tax, were AED111.8 million, compared to AED110.3 million in H1 2024, reflecting ongoing investments in market infrastructure and technology.
In the second quarter of 2025, total revenue reached AED702.5 million, up from AED157.6 million reported in Q2 2024. Additionally, the exchange recorded a net profit before tax of AED642.2 million, compared to AED99.8 million in the same period last year, reflecting steady market growth.
DFM noted increased trading activity during H1 2025, with the average daily traded value (ADTV) rising by 75 percent year-over-year to AED692 million, leading to a total traded value of AED85 billion, an increase of 77 percent compared to AED48 billion in H1 2024. The average number of daily trades also rose by 37 percent to approximately 13,900, indicating deeper market engagement.
Read more: DFM records $10.5 million in major trades on Al Ansari, Ajman Bank
New investor growth and engagement
During the first half of 2025, DFM welcomed 53,655 new investors, with foreign investors accounting for 84 percent, bringing the total investor base to over 1.2 million. Institutional trading saw a notable increase, reaching 71 percent of total activity, with foreign investors contributing 53 percent of trading and representing 20 percent ownership of market capitalization.
In June, DFM participated in HSBC’s GCC Exchanges Conference in London, which gathered over 300 global institutional investors, more than 100 corporates, and representatives from all GCC exchanges. The conference highlighted the growing global interest in the Gulf markets, driven by resilient regional performance, including a 33 percent increase in GCC IPO activity in the first three months of the year.
In the first half of 2025, DFM proudly welcomed the landmark IPO of Dubai Residential REIT (DUBAIRESI), the GCC’s largest and first-ever listed pure-play residential leasing-focused REIT. The IPO raised AED2.145 billion (US$584 million) and was significantly oversubscribed, with gross demand surpassing AED56 billion (US$15 billion), approximately 26 times the offered units. Dubai Residential REIT debuted with a market capitalization of AED14.3 billion (US$3.9 billion), marking the largest listed REIT in the GCC and underscoring strong investor confidence in Dubai’s real estate sector.
In May, DFM successfully hosted the third MENA Capital Market Summit (CMS 2025), attracting over 1,500 attendees and more than 100 speakers from leading global institutions. The annual event has become a regional anchor for dialogue, innovation, and investment, further cementing DFM’s role as a strategic enabler of capital market development. During this year’s edition, DFM announced two AI-powered enhancements to its iVestor app: Smart Disclosures and Financial Summary.
New features for informed investing
Smart Disclosures provides concise summaries of detailed company announcements, while Financial Summary presents key financial metrics clearly and succinctly. These new features are designed to simplify access to information and support investors in making informed decisions, aligning with the rising demand for intuitive, digital-first investment tools. DFM also continued enhancing its Arena platform, aimed at facilitating broader capital access and diversifying investment opportunities across various asset classes, thereby reinforcing market depth and investor engagement.
Market capitalization reached AED995 billion, reflecting Dubai’s diversified economic base with sector composition as follows: Financials 40 percent, Real Estate 20 percent, Utilities 17 percent, Industrials 12 percent, Communication Services 5 percent, and Consumer Staples and other sectors comprising the remainder. This diverse mix strategically positions DFM to attract listings from emerging and underrepresented sectors.
Hamed Ali, CEO of DFM and Nasdaq Dubai, stated, “DFM’s performance in the first half of 2025 reflects a market evolving with purpose, demonstrating steady progress in executing our strategic initiatives and maintaining investor confidence. The successful listing of Dubai Residential REIT signals continued strength in our IPO pipeline and a growing investor appetite for diversified asset classes. As we expand access to new products and deepen market infrastructure, DFM remains a magnet for capital and a launchpad for the region’s most ambitious issuers.”
