Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange launched a derivatives market on Thursday that will allow trading in single stock futures as part of the bourse's strategy to develop the emirate's capital markets and bring its products and services in line with global peers.
Trading in the single equity futures of Etisalat, First Abu Dhabi Bank, the UAE’s largest lender by assets, International Holding Company, Adnoc Distribution and Aldar Properties started on Thursday, with more securities to be added later this year and in 2022, according to a statement from Abu Dhabi Media Office.
"With the launch of single equity futures, the new market will give investors and traders the opportunity to benefit from increased leverage, two-way market exposure and hedging capabilities," the ADX said in a statement on Thursday.
The emirate’s bourse plans to introduce index futures in the first quarter of 2022, ahead of the expansion into a wider range of derivative products that will boost market liquidity. The ADX has rallied about 58 per cent year-to-date on the back of initial public offerings, rising foreign investment and higher oil prices that have boosted investor confidence leading to the market value soaring to nearly Dh1.5 trillion ($403 billion).
In October, Fertiglobe, the world’s largest seaborne exporter of urea and ammonia combined, raised about $795 million from its listing on the ADX. That offering followed Adnoc Drilling which reaped $1.1bn from its listing in the same month. In July, Al Yah Satellite Communications, better known as Yahsat, a unit of Mubadala Investment Company, raised about $730 million through its listing.
“The introduction of stock and index futures will support our ‘ADX One’ strategy, which aims to provide diversification avenues and enhance liquidity to create a dynamic capital market,” Mohammed Al Shorafa, chairman of ADX, said.
“At the same time, the exchange’s efforts to provide innovative products and services will aid the Emirate’s sustainable economic growth trajectory, providing further opportunities for investors to share in the unique growth opportunities afforded by Abu Dhabi companies.”
Three market makers including ADQ’s Q Market Makers, BHM Capital and Al Ramz Capital are joining the ADX derivatives market to provide liquidity on the new platform and facilitate an efficient and orderly market, according to the statement. The derivatives market is using marketplace technology delivered by Nasdaq.
“The launch of a derivatives market on the ADX is another sign of deepening capital markets in the region … deep and active derivatives markets will provide us with more instruments to express our trading views and hedge certain risks," said Mohamed El Jamal, chief investment officer of Waha Capital’s public markets business and lead portfolio manager of the Waha MENA Equity Fund.
"The active presence of market makers should be positive in supporting underlying liquidity of these instruments”.
The ADX is expanding investable asset classes and developing new offerings for regional and international investors, as the region’s second-biggest bourse continues to outperform its peers in the GCC.
In September, the ADX waived the minimum commission fee on the trading of all listed securities to boost trading by smaller investors.
The new move comes as Abu Dhabi announced plans to launch a Dh5bn ($1.3bn) IPO fund to help encourage and support private companies to list on the local stock market.
The fund will be overseen by the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs and managed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (Added), the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office said last month.
The IPO fund will invest in five to 10 private companies a year, with a special focus on small and medium enterprises, and will aim to have a ticket size of between 10 and 40 per cent of the float.
The bourse also launched central counterparty clearing to promote clearing efficiency, stability and confidence in the market along with a derivatives market on Thursday.
"The continued development of ADX will encourage companies to raise capital to fund their needs while diversifying their investor base," Saeed Al Dhaheri, chief executive of ADX, said. "We will continue to attract investors worldwide by enhancing our technology and providing a greater choice of products and services.”
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
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if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
UAE%20SQUAD
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Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
INDIA SQUAD
Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
RACECARD
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dubai World Cup draw
1. Gunnevera
2. Capezzano
3. North America
4. Audible
5. Seeking The Soul
6. Pavel
7. Gronkowski
8. Axelrod
9. New Trails
10. Yoshida
11. K T Brave
12. Thunder Snow
13. Dolkong
The%20specs
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
