Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
The main index of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) — the FTSE ADX General Index (FADGI) — crossed the 10,000-point threshold for the first time in its history, marking a significant milestone for the emirate’s capital markets.
At the close of trading on Monday, the index ended at 10,006.87, after touching an intraday high of 10,026, underscoring continued investor confidence in Abu Dhabi equities. The index had previously breached the 10,000 mark on July 4, but only briefly before closing below that level.
FADGI, launched in 2022 as part of a strategic index partnership between ADX and FTSE Russell, serves as the primary benchmark for tracking the performance of listed equities on the ADX Main Market. It includes all companies that meet eligibility requirements for liquidity and free float, offering a transparent view of the market's breadth.
The index is a float-adjusted, market capitalisation-weighted benchmark that reflects the overall health of Abu Dhabi’s economy, with representation across sectors such as real estate, banking, energy, and industrials. It is up 6.3% year-to-date, and approximately 9.7% over the past 12 months.
The FADGI underpins multiple exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and structured investment products, and plays a crucial role in regional and global index inclusion efforts — notably with MSCI and the FTSE Global Equity Index Series.
FTSE Russell is a leading global provider of index and benchmark solutions, spanning diverse asset classes and investment objectives.
“The FTSE ADX General Index crossing the 10,000-point mark is more than just a number — it’s a reflection of how seriously Abu Dhabi is being taken on the global financial stage,” said Milad Azar, market analyst at XTB MENA.
In comments to Aleithad, he said: “This isn’t happening by chance. The leadership has made calculated moves: diversifying the economy, modernising the exchange, and welcoming foreign capital with smart regulations.”
Investor confidence has risen in a big way in the UAE stock markets.
“The fact that global benchmarks like FTSE and MSCI are increasingly tied to ADX says a lot. I think this milestone marks the beginning of a new era where Abu Dhabi plays a much larger role regionally and globally,” said Azar.
This milestone boosts ADX’s profile as a key regional financial hub.
“Crossing the 10,000 mark is a major step for FADGI and signals strong investor confidence in Abu Dhabi’s market. It reflects solid economic fundamentals, sectoral growth, and increasing global interest,” said Samer Mardini, Chief Investment Officer at a family office in Dubai.
Meanwhile, the UAE stock markets continued to show positive momentum. The ADX’s market capitalisation has touched Dh3.090 trillion, as surprisingly Burjeel Holding and Lulu Retail emerged as the star performers with 14.7% and 4% spikes in share prices. They were among the most traded shares both in terms of value and volume. Dubai Financial Market (DFM) too made handsome gains with the index rising by 0.858% to 5802.62. Emirates NBD was among those who led the rally with a 2.75% gain.
