Dubai: Dubai Financial Market (DFM) today announced its consolidated financial results for the six-month period ending 30 June 2025, reporting a net profit before tax of AED777.1 million, up 298 percent compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring strong investor confidence and the continued expansion of Dubai’s capital markets.
According to Emirates News Agency, DFM experienced robust market performance during this period, with the DFM General Index (DFMGI) rising by 10.6 percent. This increase reflects both local market strength and a broader global shift in capital towards resilient, growth-oriented markets. The total market capitalisation also increased by a solid 9.7 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching AED995 billion.
Helal Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of DFM, commented on the performance, highlighting the growing market depth and investor engagement. He noted that the rise in the DFM General Index, alongside sustained participation from institutional and foreign investors, is set against a backdrop of a dynamic Dubai economy. This has been reinforced by record real estate activity, a growing hedge fund presence, and increased capital flows, solidifying the emirate’s status as a global financial hub. The 3rd edition of the Annual Capital Market Summit in May drew over 1,500 international and regional participants, further emphasizing DFM’s global standing.
DFM’s total consolidated revenue rose 191 percent to AED888.9 million in the first half of 2025, driven by a significant rise in operating income and solid investment returns, alongside one-off income from the sale of an investment property. Expenses, excluding tax, were recorded at AED111.8 million, reflecting ongoing investments in market infrastructure and technology.
In the second quarter of 2025, DFM’s total revenue reached AED702.5 million compared to AED157.6 million in Q2 2024. The exchange recorded a net profit before tax of AED642.2 million, a substantial increase from AED99.8 million in the corresponding period last year, showcasing steady market growth.
Trading activity saw a considerable increase in H1 2025, with the average daily traded value (ADTV) rising 75 percent year-on-year to AED692 million, culminating in a total traded value of AED85 billion, up 77 percent from AED48 billion in H1 2024. The average number of daily trades also increased by 37 percent to approximately 13,900, indicating deeper market engagement.
DFM onboarded 53,655 new investors during the first half of 2025, with foreign investors making up 84 percent, raising the total investor base to over 1.2 million. Institutional trading notably increased, accounting for 71 percent of total activity, with foreign investors contributing 53 percent of trading and representing 20 percent ownership of market capitalisation.
In June, DFM participated in HSBC’s GCC Exchanges Conference in London, which convened over 300 global institutional investors and representatives from all GCC exchanges. The conference highlighted growing global interest in Gulf markets, driven by resilient regional performance, including a 33 percent rise in GCC IPO activity in the first three months of the year.
The first half of 2025 also saw the landmark IPO of Dubai Residential REIT (DUBAIRESI), the GCC’s largest and first-ever listed pure-play residential leasing-focused REIT, raising AED2.145 billion (US$584 million). This IPO was significantly oversubscribed, with gross demand exceeding AED56 billion (US$15 billion), approximately 26 times the offered units.
DFM hosted the third MENA Capital Market Summit (CMS 2025) in May, attracting over 1,500 attendees and more than 100 speakers from leading global institutions. During this event, DFM introduced two AI-powered enhancements to its iVestor app: Smart Disclosures and Financial Summary, designed to simplify access to information and support investors in making informed decisions.
Hamed Ali, CEO of DFM and Nasdaq Dubai, remarked on DFM’s performance, noting the market’s evolution and the significant progress in executing strategic initiatives. He highlighted the successful listing of Dubai Residential REIT as a signal of continued strength in DFM’s IPO pipeline and growing investor appetite for diversified asset classes.