DFM Sees Record Q1 2025 Growth with AED 41B Trading, Profit Up 41%

Photo : Dubai Government Media Office

The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, showing impressive growth driven by record trading activity and strong investor interest. In Q1 2025, DFM reached its highest Average Daily Trading Value (ADTV) in over ten years, reaching AED 663 million. This is a 67% increase compared to the same period last year. The total value of all trades in Q1 2025 was AED 41 billion, which is 61% higher than the AED 25.5 billion traded in Q1 2024.

In addition to these strong trading results, DFM's total revenue for the first quarter of 2025 was AED 186.5 million, up from AED 148.1 million in Q1 2024. This revenue includes AED 86 million from operations and AED 100.5 million from investment returns and other income. The market's net profit before tax was AED 134.9 million, compared to AED 95.6 million in Q1 2024. DFM's expenses, excluding tax, were AED 51.6 million, a slight decrease from AED 52.5 million in the same period last year.

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H.E. Helal Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of DFM, shared his thoughts on the market's performance, saying, "Despite challenges in the global market, DFM has kept up strong performance and maintained high levels of investor confidence. Our market continues to grow and strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading global financial center. We are committed to transparency, innovation, and creating sustainable opportunities for all our stakeholders."

Strong Trading Performance

DFM had its best trading numbers in more than a decade in Q1 2025. The ADTV reached AED 663 million, a 67% increase from AED 398 million in Q1 2024. This was the result of strong trading volumes and a steady flow of capital, even though global uncertainty had an impact on investor mood.

The total market value of all companies listed on the DFM was AED 897 billion at the end of March 2025. This is a small drop of 1% from the end of 2024. Average daily trades on the market also grew by 33% compared to last year, reaching 13,400 trades per day, showing an increase in market activity and investor participation.

CEO’s Remarks

Hamed Ali, CEO of DFM and Nasdaq Dubai, said, "The record performance in Q1 2025 shows the strength and continued growth of our market. Strong capital inflows, high trading activity, and more involvement from both institutional and international investors highlight that DFM is trusted more than ever. We will continue to focus on maintaining this momentum, improving liquidity, and providing value to all participants."

Strong Investor Interest

DFM continued to attract interest from investors, with 19,366 new investors joining the market in Q1 2025. Out of these, 86% were foreign nationals. Foreign investors accounted for 53% of the total trading value, and their ownership in DFM-listed companies stayed steady at 21%.

Institutional investors also showed increased confidence in DFM, making up 72% of the total trading value in Q1 2025. This is a rise from 65% in the same period last year. This shows that DFM’s market is appealing to a wide range of global investors.