Dubai Financial Market (DFM).
The Dubai stock exchange. Listed companies, trading hours, DFMGI index, sectors and how to invest as a UAE resident or expat.
The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) is the Dubai stock exchange, operating since 2000. The flagship index is the DFM General Index (DFMGI). Trading runs Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 to 14:00 UAE time, with a pre-open auction from 09:30. Top listings include Emirates NBD, Emaar Properties, DEWA, Empower, du and the DFM itself. DFM is a separate exchange from the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
DFM trading hours
| Session | Time (UAE, GST) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-open | 09:30 to 10:00 | Order entry, no execution. Auction price discovery. |
| Continuous | 10:00 to 13:45 | Main trading session. Continuous matching. |
| Closing auction | 13:45 to 14:00 | Closing price set by call auction. |
| Weekend | Friday and Saturday | Closed. Aligned with UAE working week. |
Settlement is T+2. The exchange uses the AED as denomination.
Major DFM-listed companies
| Ticker | Company | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| EMIRATESNBD | Emirates NBD | Banking |
| EMAAR | Emaar Properties | Real estate developer |
| EMAARDEV | Emaar Development | Residential developer |
| DEWA | Dubai Electricity and Water Authority | Utilities |
| EMPOWER | Emirates Central Cooling Systems (Empower) | District cooling utility |
| SALIK | Salik Company | Toll-road operator |
| PARKIN | Parkin Company | Parking operator |
| DU | Emirates Integrated Telecommunications (du) | Telecoms |
| DIB | Dubai Islamic Bank | Islamic banking |
| DFM | Dubai Financial Market PJSC | Exchange operator (self-listed) |
DFM vs ADX, at a glance
| Aspect | DFM | ADX |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Dubai | Abu Dhabi |
| Founded | 2000 | 2000 |
| Index | DFMGI | FADGI |
| Listings tilt | Real estate, banking, utilities, services | Energy, holding companies (IHC, ADNOC Gas), banking |
| Trading hours | 10:00 to 14:00 (Sunday to Thursday) | 10:00 to 14:00 (Sunday to Thursday) |
| Currency | AED | AED |
| Settlement | T+2 | T+2 |
How UAE residents and expats can invest in DFM
- Open an Investor Number (NIN) through the DFM website or via any licensed brokerage.
- Open a trading account with a UAE-licensed brokerage. Examples: Emirates NBD Securities, FAB Securities, EFG Hermes, Daman Securities, ENBD Capital.
- Fund the brokerage account in AED. Foreign-currency funding is supported; FX is converted on receipt.
- Place buy or sell orders during DFM hours (Sunday to Thursday, 10:00 to 14:00 UAE time).
- Settlement is T+2: shares appear in your NIN, cash in your brokerage account, two business days after trade.
Brokerage fees in the UAE are typically 0.15 percent to 0.275 percent per trade, with a minimum AED 10 to AED 30 per order. Always confirm current fees with your broker.
DFM FAQ
DFM stands for the Dubai Financial Market, the primary stock exchange in Dubai, operating since 2000.
DFMGI is the DFM General Index, a free-float market-capitalisation weighted index covering the main DFM-listed equities.
No. The UAE has two separate exchanges: DFM in Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). They list different companies and have different indices.
Yes. UAE residents (citizens and expats) and many non-resident foreigners can invest in DFM through a UAE-licensed brokerage. Specific foreign ownership limits apply at the company level and are set by each issuer.
The Dubai Financial Market was established on 26 March 2000 by Resolution of the Ministry of Economy.
The UAE does not levy a personal income tax on individuals, so dividends paid to UAE-resident individuals are not subject to withholding tax. Corporate UAE tax (9 percent) applies to companies above the AED 375,000 profit threshold.