The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has recorded significant value and volume of trading in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) since the beginning of this year, making it the most active and liquid ETF market in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

According to data obtained by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) from ADX, the total value of ETF trading on the exchange reached Dhs1.86 billion in the first eight months of 2024.

This strong activity and significant growth reinforces ADX’s position as a preferred destination and a major regional hub for ETFs, while supporting its ambitious goals of attracting and listing ETFs from global issuers. The exchange is also continuing its efforts to expand investment products, enhance its efficiency, and drive its sustainable growth.

The volume of trading in exchange-traded index funds (ETFs) on ADX settled at around 450.7 million units since the beginning of this year, with the number of transactions reaching 19,853 transactions.

eanwhile the market cap of Arab stock exchanges exceeded $4.174 trillion at the end of the first half 2024, according to the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF).

The AMF’s monthly bulletin data said that the market value of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange reached $761.54 billion, that of the Dubai Financial Market was $184.8 billion, and that of the Saudi Exchange ‘Tadawul’ was $2.68 trillion.

The market value of the Qatar Stock Exchange was $157.9 billion, the Boursa Kuwait was about $134.06 billion, the Casablanca Stock Exchange was $69.4 billion, the Muscat Stock Exchange was $63 billion, and the Egyptian Exchange was $39.07 billion. The market value of the Amman Stock Exchange was $23.3 billion, the Bahrain Bourse was $21.2 billion, the Beirut Stock Exchange was $16.54 billion, the Tunis Bourse was $8.3 billion, the Damascus Securities Exchange was $5.66 billion, and the Palestine Exchange was $4.2 billion.

Oil and gas sector: The oil and gas sector in Arab countries attracted 610 projects implemented by 356 foreign and Arab companies, with a total investment cost of $ 406 billion between January 2003 and May 2024.

The Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman) stated in its first sectoral report on oil and gas in Arab countries for 2024, launched today from its headquarters in Kuwait City, that the United States topped the list as the most important investing country in the Arab region in the oil and gas sector in terms of the number of projects, with 85 projects representing about 14 per cent of the total.

It added that Russia ranked first in terms of investment costs, with a value of $ 61.5 billion, representing about 15.2 per cent of the total, according to the database of foreign direct investment projects worldwide.