Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, commonly known as ADX, is the securities market based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It provides a regulated marketplace for trading shares and other listed securities and serves as an important component of the UAE's capital-markets infrastructure. The exchange connects listed companies, investors, brokers, market intermediaries and other participants through its trading, listing, disclosure and market-data functions. ADX was established in November 2000 under Abu Dhabi Local Law No. 3. Its creation formed part of the development of a formal securities-market system in the emirate and gave companies headquartered in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere in the UAE a venue for public listings and secondary-market trading. In January 2003, the exchange launched the ADX General Index, providing a broad market indicator intended to track the performance of securities traded on the exchange. The exchange's listed universe has included companies from banking and financial services, insurance, energy, telecommunications, real estate, construction materials, industrial activities, food and agriculture, healthcare, hospitality and other services. Its market therefore reflects a wide cross-section of Abu Dhabi's and the wider UAE's corporate economy. Examples of listed issuers identified in reference material include First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, International Holding Company, ADNOC-related companies, TAQA, Aldar Properties, Etisalat, Abu Dhabi National Hotels and several insurance, industrial and investment businesses. A significant institutional change occurred on 17 March 2020. Under Abu Dhabi Local Law No. 8, ADX moved from being a public entity to operating as a public joint stock company. At the same time, it became a subsidiary of ADQ, the Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding group. This transition placed the exchange within a broader state-linked investment and economic-development structure while preserving its role as a market operator. In January 2022, ADX adopted FTSE Russell's methodology for its benchmark and sector classification framework. The change was accompanied by a newly branded index and revised sector groupings, aligning the presentation of the market more closely with internationally used index and classification practices. The initiative was intended to improve comparability, transparency and the usability of ADX market information for domestic and international investors. ADX is distinct from the Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai, which are other major securities-market venues in the UAE. Its principal geographic base and institutional identity remain Abu Dhabi, although its listed companies and investor participation extend beyond a single emirate. The exchange's public materials describe a market containing more than one hundred public listed companies across multiple sectors, although the precise number and composition change over time as listings, delistings, classifications and corporate actions occur. As an exchange rather than a consumer product brand, ADX's principal offerings are market infrastructure and access: listing services, securities trading, market information, index and sector representation, and related services for issuers and investors. Its performance is influenced by listed-company results, interest rates, commodity conditions, regional capital flows, regulation, geopolitical developments and the broader economic outlook. The exchange remains active, but individual statistics such as current market capitalization, trading volume and listed-company count require time-specific verification from official ADX disclosures.

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange was established in November 2000 under Abu Dhabi Local Law No. 3. The exchange was created to provide Abu Dhabi and UAE companies with a formal venue for securities issuance, listing and secondary-market trading. It also supplied investors with an organized market for buying and selling listed securities within a regulated framework. In January 2003, ADX introduced the ADX General Index. The index provided a market-level reference for the performance of securities traded on the exchange and became part of the market's public reporting and benchmarking infrastructure. The exchange underwent a major legal and institutional transformation on 17 March 2020. Under Abu Dhabi Local Law No. 8, it changed from a public entity into a public joint stock company. It also became a subsidiary of ADQ, an Abu Dhabi investment and holding group. The change altered ADX's corporate form and ownership structure while retaining its function as Abu Dhabi's principal securities-market venue. In January 2022, ADX adopted FTSE Russell's methodology. The transition introduced a newly branded index and revised sector groupings, bringing the exchange's index and classification presentation closer to internationally familiar market conventions. This was significant for the comparability of ADX with other exchanges and for the way institutional investors evaluate its listed companies and sectors. ADX's market has included public companies in financial services, banking, insurance, energy, telecommunications, real estate, construction materials, industry, food, healthcare, hospitality and other services. The composition of the market changes through new listings, corporate reorganizations, transfers, delistings and changes in classification. Reference material describes more than one hundred public listed companies across twelve sectors as of November 2024, as well as a separate group of private listed companies identified in early 2024; these figures should be treated as time-specific rather than permanent characteristics of the exchange. The exchange operates in the UAE's wider capital-markets ecosystem alongside the Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai. ADX's core activities include securities trading, listings, issuer disclosure, market data and index administration. Its development and market performance are affected by domestic economic policy, corporate earnings, interest rates, energy prices, investor sentiment, regulation and regional geopolitical conditions. Individual financial and operating metrics require confirmation from current official exchange reports.

• 2022

  FTSE Russell methodology adopted

  [1]Abu Dhabi Securities Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  ADX moved to FTSE Russell's methodology and introduced a newly branded index and revised sector groupings.

• 2020

  Corporate-form and ownership transition

  [1]Abu Dhabi Securities Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  On 17 March 2020, ADX became a public joint stock company and a subsidiary of ADQ under Abu Dhabi Local Law No. 8.

• 2003

  ADX General Index launched

  [1]Abu Dhabi Securities Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  ADX launched its General Index as a broad measure of securities traded on the exchange.

• 2000

  Exchange established

  [1]Abu Dhabi Securities Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange was established in November 2000 under Abu Dhabi Local Law No. 3.

A regulated Abu Dhabi-based securities market serving UAE issuers and domestic and international investors, with a broad listed-company base spanning financial, energy, industrial, property and service sectors.

• Market index · 2003

  ADX General Index

  A broad benchmark associated with the performance of securities traded on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. It was launched in January 2003 and provides investors and observers with a market-level reference rather than representing a single company or industry.

• Securities trading · 2000

  Listed-equity market

  ADX's central marketplace for trading shares of publicly listed companies. The issuer base has included banks, insurers, energy companies, property businesses, industrial groups, telecommunications companies, hospitality operators and other service providers.

• Capital-markets infrastructure · 2000

  Listing and issuer services

  Services supporting companies seeking admission to the exchange and maintaining their obligations as listed issuers, including market disclosure and corporate-action processes. Specific service features and eligibility rules are subject to ADX regulations and current official documentation.

• 2022

  Adoption of FTSE Russell methodologyGeneration change

  Background

  ADX sought a more internationally aligned approach to index construction and sector grouping.

  Action taken

  The exchange transitioned to FTSE Russell's methodology and introduced a newly branded index and revised sector groupings.

  Aftermath

  The change was intended to improve the comparability and presentation of the ADX market for investors and market observers.

  Source

• 2020

  Conversion into a public joint stock companyStrategy

  Background

  ADX had operated as a public entity since its establishment and was reorganized under Abu Dhabi Local Law No. 8.

  Action taken

  On 17 March 2020, the exchange transitioned into a public joint stock company and became a subsidiary of ADQ.

  Aftermath

  The measure changed ADX's legal form and placed it within ADQ's group structure while preserving its role as Abu Dhabi's securities exchange.

  Source

• 2021-10-03

  ADNOC announces planned ADNOC Drilling listing[3]ADNOC 宣布 ADNOC Drilling 计划上市businesstoday.in

  Reported: 2021-10-03

  ADNOC said its drilling unit, ADNOC Drilling, would list on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange on Sunday through a $1.1 billion IPO. The article described the listing as planned rather than reporting a completed listing in its body text.

  Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.

• 2021-02-06

  Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange announces trading-fee reduction[4]阿布扎比证券交易所宣布下调交易费用gulfnews.com

  Reported: 2021-02-06

  Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange announced that fees on all exchange transactions would be reduced by more than 22%, from 0.225% to 0.175%, effective February 14.

• 2020-10-13

  Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange launches covered short selling service[5]阿布扎比证券交易所推出备兑卖空服务abudhabicityguide.com

  Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange announced the launch of its Covered Short Selling investment service after the Securities and Commodities Authority approved the related guidelines. The exchange said the service supports its strategy of diversifying investments and providing investors with more hedging mechanisms.

• 2020-08-22

  Aurora50 partners with five UAE financial institutions on board representation initiative[6]Aurora50与五家阿联酋金融机构合作推动董事会女性代表性thenationalnews.com

  Reported: 2020-08-22

  Aurora50 partnered with the Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai to promote the initiative and develop and deliver board-specific workshops for the 20 for 2020 participants.

• 2020-02-05

  ADX announces index partnership with FTSE Russell[7]ADX宣布与FTSE Russell建立指数合作关系gulfnews.com

  Reported: 2020-02-05

  The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange announced a full index partnership with FTSE Russell. Under the agreement, FTSE Russell will become benchmark administrator for domestic equity indexes in Abu Dhabi and provide daily index calculations.

1. 1Abu Dhabi Securities Exchangeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange official websiteadx.ae
3. 3ADNOC 宣布 ADNOC Drilling 计划上市businesstoday.in
4. 4阿布扎比证券交易所宣布下调交易费用gulfnews.com
5. 5阿布扎比证券交易所推出备兑卖空服务abudhabicityguide.com
6. 6Aurora50与五家阿联酋金融机构合作推动董事会女性代表性thenationalnews.com
7. 7ADX宣布与FTSE Russell建立指数合作关系gulfnews.com