DFM proposes $142m dividend on strong 2025 results

• Bourse operator’s revenue more than doubles
• Trading volume surges at Dubai exchange
• Foreign investor base grows

Dubai Financial Market, the operator of the emirate’s stock exchange, said its revenue more than doubled in 2025, driven by a surge in trading volume and a growing base of foreign investors.

Consolidated revenue jumped 102 percent year on year to AED1.2 billion ($327 million), as trading commission fees almost doubled to AED403 million, the company said in a statement.

Net profit attributable to shareholders rose 156 percent to AED966 million in 2025.

As a result, the company’s board recommended distributing a dividend of AED520 million, equivalent to 6.5 percent of capital and 59 percent of retained earnings available for distribution, subject to shareholders’ approval.

DFM’s pretax profit reached AED124 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to AED111 million a year earlier, amid sustained market momentum towards year-end. 

Average daily trading volume in 2025 increased 31 percent, driven by higher institutional participation and growth in cross-border trading. Average daily traded value reached AED692 million, while total traded value stood at AED174 billion last year.

Institutional trading increased to 71 percent of total activity.

Further reading:

• Emirati equity derivatives tipped to grow after reforms
• Egypt’s bourse to introduce derivatives trading
• DFM profit surges to $231m as revenue doubles

The exchange operator attracted 97,394 new investors in 2025, with foreign investors accounting for 51 percent, raising the total investor base to 1.25 million.

The DFM general index rose 17.2 percent by the end of 2025, pushing market capitalisation to AED992 billion.

The company’s stock gained nearly 2 percent to close at AED1.72 on Wednesday. The share is up 5 percent year-to-date.

Borse Dubai Limited owns 80.66 percent of DFM. 

Borse Dubai is co-owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai (60 percent), Dubai Group (20 percent) and DIFC Investments (20 percent).