Abu Dhabi asset manager unveils Sharia-compliant ETF with two different asset classes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Reuters.
Abu Dhabi asset manager unveils Sharia-compliant ETF with two different asset classes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Reuters.
Abu Dhabi asset manager unveils Sharia-compliant ETF with two different asset classes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Reuters.
Abu Dhabi asset manager unveils Sharia-compliant ETF with two different asset classes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Reuters.

UAE's first ETF tracking Sharia-compliant index lists on UAE markets


Deena Kamel
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE's first exchange traded fund tracking a Sharia-compliant index began trading on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dubai Financial Market on Monday.

Chimera Capital, an Abu Dhabi-based asset management firm wholly owned by Chimera Investments, listed its Chimera S&P UAE Shariah ETF – Share Class A in Abu Dhabi, ADX said in a filing. A separate listing for Share Class B took place on the DFM. Both track a Sharia-compliant index compiled from local stocks listed in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

"We are pleased to bring to market the first ETF tracking a Sharia-compliant index in the UAE, which opens a new wholesale investment opportunity to a unique investor profile," a Chimera Capital executive said. "The Chimera S&P UAE Shariah ETF will allow investors to capitalise on the prospects of the UAE's economy."

Bourses in the the region are ramping up efforts to diversify their product offerings to attract more foreign direct investment and boost trading activity as their economies seek to recover from lower oil prices and the impact of the coronavirus. Last month, ADX chief executive Khaleefa Al Mansouri told The National that there would be an ETF listing on the exchange in August.

The new ETF's Class-A shares listed on the ADX will reinvest income into the fund. The Class-B shares listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) will distribute any collected dividends to investors.

Both are designed to replicate the S&P UAE Domestic Shariah Liquid 35/20 Capped Index, which has members including Dubai Islamic Bank.

The Chimera S&P UAE Shariah ETF is structured and built by S&P and monitored by a Shariah board that meets regularly to review and re-balance the index quarterly, ensuring that the securities in the index are liquid and Sharia-compliant. The fund will be managed by Chimera Capital.

Currently the index has ten securities across the two UAE markets.

The fund's top holdings include Emirates Telecommunications Group with the biggest weighting of 33.63 per cent, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emaar Properties, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Aramex.

Other holdings include Dana Gas, Emaar Malls Group, Deyaar Development, Eshraq Properties and Islamic Arab Insurance Company, according to a statement on the DFM.

The fund has a total market capitalisation of Dh234 billion and assets under management of Dh934,839, according to Chimera's website.

"With a primary listing on ADX, it is a new opportunity for Islamic investors to add variety to their portfolios and manage risk more effectively," Mr Al Mansouri said.

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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES

SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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