Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
Listed companies, trading hours, sector breakdown, indices and how to invest: the complete reference for the UAE's second main stock market.
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) is the UAE's second main stock market, founded in November 2000. It lists 70+ companies across banking, energy (ADNOC group), telecommunications (e&), real estate (Aldar), and sovereign-linked conglomerates (IHC, ADQ-affiliated entities). Trading runs Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 2:45 PM UAE time (continuous session 10:00–13:45, extended hours 13:45–14:00, plus pre-open 09:30–10:00). Settlement is T+2. Main index: FADGI (FTSE ADX General Index). UAE residents and non-residents can both invest via a free National Investor Number (NIN).
ADX trading hours & settlement (2026)
| Session | Time (UAE) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-opening session | 09:30 – 10:00 | Order entry, no execution |
| Continuous trading | 10:00 – 13:45 | Main session, all orders execute |
| Extended hours | 13:45 – 14:00 | Closing-price auction window |
| Settlement | T+2 | Trade date plus two business days |
ADX is closed Saturday, Sunday, and UAE public holidays. Trading calendar published annually at adx.ae.
Largest ADX-listed companies by market cap
As of mid-2026, the largest companies on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange include:
| Company | Ticker | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| International Holding Company | IHC | Conglomerate |
| ADNOC Gas | ADNOCGAS | Energy: natural gas |
| ADNOC Drilling | ADNOCDRILL | Energy services |
| First Abu Dhabi Bank | FAB | Banking: largest UAE bank |
| e& (Etisalat Group) | EAND | Telecommunications |
| Aldar Properties | ALDAR | Real estate: Abu Dhabi |
| Borouge | BOROUGE | Petrochemicals |
| ADNOC Distribution | ADNOCDIST | Retail fuel network |
| Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank | ADCB | Banking |
| Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank | ADIB | Islamic banking |
| Multiply Group | MULTIPLY | Conglomerate (IHC subsidiary) |
| Pure Health | PUREHEALTH | Healthcare |
ADX vs DFM: key differences
| Feature | ADX (Abu Dhabi) | DFM (Dubai) |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | November 2000 | March 2000 |
| Listed companies | ~70+ | ~60+ |
| Main index | FADGI | DFMGI |
| Sector skew | Energy, banking, sovereign conglomerates | Real estate, banking, consumer |
| Trading hours | Mon–Fri 10:00–14:45 | Mon–Fri 10:00–14:50 |
| Settlement | T+2 | T+2 |
| Foreign ownership | Allowed (sector limits apply) | Allowed (sector limits apply) |
| Capital gains tax | None (individuals) | None (individuals) |
How to invest in ADX as an expat in 2026
- Get a National Investor Number (NIN): free, online via ADX or any licensed UAE broker. Requires Emirates ID and passport.
- Open a brokerage account with a licensed UAE broker. Common choices: FAB Securities, ADCB Securities, EFG Hermes UAE, ADI Financial, Mubasher Financial.
- Fund the account via bank transfer in AED.
- Place orders: limit orders recommended over market orders for better price control. Most brokers offer mobile apps with real-time ADX quotes.
- Settlement is automatic on T+2. Shares appear in your portfolio two business days after the trade executes.
- Receive dividends in your brokerage account: tax-free for individual investors. Many ADX names pay 3–7% dividend yields, which is high vs global averages.
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Frequently asked questions
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) is the UAE's second main stock market, established in November 2000. It lists over 70 companies across banking, energy, real estate, telecommunications, healthcare and consumer sectors. Its main index is the FADGI (FTSE ADX General Index).
ADX is open Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 2:45 PM UAE time, in line with the UAE working week (revised from Sunday–Thursday in 2022). A pre-opening session runs from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM, the main continuous trading session runs from 10:00 AM to 1:45 PM, and an extended-hours session runs from 1:45 PM to 2:00 PM. Settlement is T+2 (trade date plus two business days).
The largest ADX-listed companies by market capitalisation include International Holding Company (IHC), ADNOC Gas, ADNOC Drilling, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), e& (Etisalat Group), Aldar Properties, Borouge, ADNOC Distribution, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB).
You need a National Investor Number (NIN) from ADX, obtained free via the ADX portal or any licensed UAE broker. Then open a brokerage account with a licensed UAE broker (FAB Securities, ADCB Securities, EFG Hermes UAE, ADI Financial, etc.), fund it via bank transfer, and you can begin trading. UAE residents and non-residents both qualify.
No. Individual investors pay no capital gains tax and no dividend tax on UAE-listed equities, including ADX. The UAE's 9% corporate tax (effective June 2023) only applies to corporate trading profits above the AED 375,000 threshold.
Both are UAE stock exchanges, but ADX is based in Abu Dhabi and DFM in Dubai. ADX historically has heavier weighting toward energy, sovereign-linked conglomerates (ADQ, Mubadala, ADNOC group), and banking, leading to a larger total market cap. DFM leans toward real estate, banking and consumer services. Many investors hold a mix of both for diversification.
Live ADX prices are published on the official ADX website (adx.ae) and through licensed broker platforms. ADAD currently provides a UAE stocks tracker covering DFM; ADX live data integration is planned for a future release.