Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), one of the fastest- growing exchanges in the world, is honoured to receive two prestigious industry awards at the Annual Conference of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM) 2024, hosted by Qatar Stock Exchange.
Best Arab Stock Exchange – Price-to-Return Ration Performance Award
ADX has been recognised as the 'Best Arab Stock Exchange' for its exceptional performance in terms of Price-to- Return Ratio, showcasing the strong investor confidence in the Exchange. With a track record of outperforming the MSCI Emerging Markets Index over the past five years, ADX has solidified its position as the top performing market in the region. The ADX General Index is consistently ranked among the top four in global market performance, reflecting the Exchange's strong growth and stability.
In addition to its impressive performance, ADX has continued to expand its offerings and attract new investors, with a market capitalisation growth of 17% year-on-year to a total of AED 3 trillion. This reinforces ADX's position as the largest market in the UAE and the second largest in the Middle East, providing investors with a diverse range of investment opportunities and further solidifying its reputation as a leading stock exchange in the region.
Best Arab Stock Exchange – ESG
ADX was also presented with the award for ‘Best Arab Stock Exchange’ integrated with Environmental and Social Governance Standards (ESG). As an active member of the UN’s Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative (SSE), ADX has a long history of supporting ESG and sustainability initiatives, including the introduction of comprehensive ESG disclosure guidelines and the launch of an ESG index in collaboration with FTSE Russell to promote sustainable business practices among its listed companies.
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Chief Executive Officer of ADX, shared, “We are humbled by the recognition from the organiser and the industry, and thankful for the unwavering support and vote of confidence by the investors, listed companies, brokers, and stakeholders in contributing to the Exchange's success. These accolades not only recognise ADX's efforts but also serve as a testament to the robust economy of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. As a market enabler and financial hub, ADX is committed to working closely with its partners and stakeholders to strengthen market liquidity, enhance market connectivity and foster sustainable growth to facilitate continuous economic growth in the region”.
Mr Abdulla Alnuaimi reiterated the Exchange’s ongoing focus on excellence and innovation, and remains committed to setting higher benchmarks for the industry in terms of Return on Investment (ROI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) integration.
The awards are a validation of the trust and confidence placed in ADX by the regional and international community, reflecting the strong partnership between the Exchange and its stakeholders. In 2023, ADX demonstrated significant growth and investor engagement, with a 37% increase in investor trading and a 35% rise in foreign ownership in ADX-listed companies. The Exchange also welcomed 50,000 new investors, marking a nearly 65% increase from the previous year. ADX also ranked 7th globally for its IPO proceeds, with six of its
IPOs in 2023 raising close to $5.6 billion, including three listings among the world’s top 20 largest IPOs of the year.
ADX also witnessed a surge in the number of green debt instruments listings on the Exchange, including listing the first-ever dirham-dominated Green Sukuk issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank, valued at AED 1.3 billion. With a total of 7 green debt instruments, ADX continues to support the UAE’s sustainability agenda and the diversification of financial instruments in the market.
The Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM) conference brings together key players in the financial industry to discuss and address the challenges and opportunities facing the Arab capital markets.
