Over 300 global institutional and corporate investors met with representatives from Gulf stock exchanges and more than 100 Gulf companies at the HSBC Conference for Gulf Cooperation Council Stock Markets held in London this week.
In its fourth year, the event focused discussions on the growing economic and financial resilience of GCC countries, which continue to see record levels of initial public offerings, advancements in sovereign and corporate bond markets, and the expansion of private credit platforms.
The conference also highlighted the UAE’s position as a vital hub for capital markets, evidenced by the interaction between investors and representatives of UAE stock exchanges and companies during the event.
By the end of 2024, the UAE managed to achieve a market capitalization of $1 trillion in its financial markets, with expectations for continued strong activity and the attraction of international investments.
As Gulf countries continue to liberalize their financial markets and launch privatization programs, investors are seeking to diversify their portfolios away from global economic volatility.
GCC capital markets maintained their resilience in the first quarter of the year, with IPO revenues rising by 33% compared to the same period in 2024, despite a slowdown in global equity and bond issuance.
Similarly, merger and acquisition activity reached its highest quarterly levels in three years, supported by robust economic activity in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
According to Nabil Al-Baloushi, Head of Markets and Securities Services for MENA and Turkey at HSBC Middle East: “Given the trend of global investors favoring resilient financial markets, the solid balance sheets of GCC countries and their sophisticated financial systems position them as a critical center for capital attraction.”
The UAE has emerged as a significant growth story, with its share of global emerging market funds increasing from 35% to 65% since mid-2021.
The diversification of sectors in the market – such as retail, logistics, and renewable energy – not only reflects increasing investor confidence but also provides global institutions with the variety they seek to rebalance their investment portfolios.
Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group, stated: “Our participation in the conference reflects the growing role of Abu Dhabi’s market as a primary gateway for global capital flows into the region.”
In the first five months of 2025 alone, net foreign investment in the market reached approximately AED 11 billion ($3 billion), marking a 78% increase compared to the same period in 2024, alongside a 347% rise in foreign trading over the past five years, as the market continues to attract institutional foreign investors seeking strong, high-dividend companies in sectors such as energy, logistics, financial services, and technology.
Our listed companies are among the leading firms in the region, characterized by robust financial fundamentals, large institutional sizes, and high transparency, underpinned by solid economic prospects for Abu Dhabi.
Strength and Diversity of the Ecosystem
Hamed Ali, CEO of Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai, remarked: “Dubai’s capital markets continue to draw growing interest from international investors, reflecting their confidence in the emirate’s economy and long-term growth vision.”
Through our participation in this year’s conference, we showcased the strength and diversity of our ecosystem of listed companies, as evidenced by the total market capitalization of Dubai at AED 951 billion, highlighting the increasing interest from global investors in the dynamic, growth-oriented opportunities that the Dubai market offers as a reliable portal in the region.”
Among the guest speakers from the UAE was Khaled Al-Qasimi, Deputy Head of Mission at the UAE Embassy in London.
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