NASDAQ Dubai is the international stock exchange serving its region. It is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

NASDAQ Dubai currently lists shares, derivatives, structured products, Sukuk and conventional bonds as well as Dubai Gold Securities (DGS) which began trading on March 2, 2009. It plans also to launch exchange-traded funds (subject to regulatory approval) and other asset classes.

The exchange provides an opportunity for individual and other investors to share in the wealth of regional and international companies.

NASDAQ Dubai operates with standards comparable to those of leading international exchanges in New York, London and Hong Kong.

Trading on NASDAQ Dubai is easy using a broker that is a NASDAQ Dubai Member. Individual investors can trade using an Investor Number which you can apply for here. The same Investor Number can be used to trade on Dubai Financial Market (DFM). (Investors  who already have an Investor Number for DFM trading can use the same one for NASDAQ Dubai.)

Institutional Investors can also trade using an Investor Number, but may trade without one if they prefer.

The latest listing on NASDAQ Dubai was Dubai Gold Securities (DGS)which began trading on March 2, 2009. DGS are Shariah-compliant securities that give exposure to the price of gold. They can be traded through a broker just like equities.

NASDAQ Dubai also has 19 listed equities. The latest company to list was The NASDAQ OMX Group in November 2008. NASDAQ Dubai listed companies are based in various countries around the world including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, China, India, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK and US as well as the UAE.

In November 2008 the exchange listed equity derivatives, which cater initially for institutional investors. You can also trade structured products, some of them based on share indices of GCC exchanges.

10am to 2pm (6am to 10am GMT)
from Sunday to Thursday

No. It is an electronic exchange. Trading is done through brokers.

Currently all are in US dollars. Listings in the world’s major currency are designed to attract international as well as regional investors.

Companies may also list in UAE Dirhams.

The method of pricing an IPO is chosen by the issuer and its advisors. Bookbuilding is a commonly used mechanism on the exchange.

Bookbuilding enables the issuer to assess the market value of its shares before listing, by inviting investors to bid for the price and quantity of shares that they want. The issuer then chooses what share price to list at. Bookbuilding is a standard practice on international markets around the world.

After listing, companies are required to maintain a fair and informed market in their securities.

Keep an eye on the stories in the media to see which IPOs are coming up. Issuers can tell you which brokers or banks to apply through. Newspapers usually carry adverts giving all the details.

No. It is up to the broker to decide.

The investor should contact the regulator of the broker. So if it is a broker based in the DIFC the investor should contact the DFSA; if it is a UAE broker the investor should contact ESCA.

The majority shareholder is Dubai Financial Market (DFM) with a two thirds stake. Borse Dubai owns one third of the shares.

Borse Dubai is also the holding company of DFM.

Call us on 04 305 5481 or email us at busdev@nasdaqdubai.com