Abdulla Alnuaimi
Group Chief Executive Officer
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group
Abdulla Alnuaimi
Group Chief Executive Officer
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group
Message from Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is a vibrant global financial center with a future ready economy, progressive business and investment policies, world-class infrastructure, resilient economy and a secure society. The annual GDP statistical estimates confirm Abu Dhabi’s steady progress in economic transformation, with non-oil activities reaching a record 54.7 per cent contribution to GDP. The strong performance of Abu Dhabi’s economy underscores the success of economic policies that facilitate business expansion and global trade which resulted in around 300 per cent increase in the foreign investments in Abu Dhabi over a decade. At ADX, we understand our responsibility in facilitating and creating greater market liquidity.
We play a defining role in opening Abu Dhabi to global capital flows and serve as a credible global investment hub, supporting cross-border trading and collaborations. We constantly strive to enhance our capital markets through innovative investment products, digital market infrastructure to keep ahead and abreast of the market changes and developments. The AFCM 2026 creates an opportunity for exchange members to exchange perspectives, forge meaningful partnerships, and draw on the region’s diversity to foster innovation and growth.
"The 2026 Conference" will delve into topics such the evolving role of market makers, the integration of AI in liquidity provision, digital securities and next generation of investment vehicles, the dynamics of margin trading in a declining interest-rate environment and more. The sessions may present innovative insights and effective strategies as we collaborate to that could potential influence and define the future of capital markets. Thus, I welcome you to Abu Dhabi in 2026 and look forward to AFCM delivering another enriching experience for all participants and attendees.
Dr. Fadi Kanso
Secretary General
Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM)
Message from the Arab Federation of Capital Markets
Each year, the AFCM Annual Conference brings our capital markets community together in a different Arab financial centre. This year, it gives us great pleasure to welcome you to Abu Dhabi on 29–30 September for one of the most important gatherings on our calendar.
Hosted by Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, the conference comes at a particularly exciting time for Arab capital markets. Our markets are growing, innovating, and attracting greater international attention, while technology, new investment products, and evolving investor expectations continue to create both opportunities and challenges.
The conference will bring together leaders from exchanges, regulators, clearing and settlement institutions, investment firms, and the wider financial community to exchange perspectives on the issues shaping our industry. It will also create space for what makes the AFCM community truly valuable: open conversations, new introductions, stronger relationships, and practical opportunities for collaboration.
Abu Dhabi, with its global outlook, dynamic financial ecosystem, and exceptional hospitality, is the ideal place to host this year’s gathering.
On behalf of AFCM, I warmly invite you to join us and we look forward to welcoming you personally and sharing two engaging and memorable days with our members, partners, and friends.
Riad Meliti
Chief Executive Officer
Arqaam Capital
Message from Arqaam Capital
The Arab capital markets are entering a defining phase of their evolution. Over the past decade, the region has witnessed a remarkable transformation: exchanges have modernised their infrastructure, regulatory frameworks have strengthened, and a new generation of institutional investors has emerged. At the same time, the pipeline of listings across the GCC and broader Arab region continues to expand, creating unprecedented opportunities for global investors to access some of the world’s most dynamic growth economies.
At Arqaam Capital, we believe that the next stage of development will be driven not only by capital formation, but by deeper engagement between issuers, investors, exchanges, and market participants. Facilitating this dialogue is essential to improving liquidity, strengthening price discovery, and ensuring that the region’s investment story is clearly understood by global capital.
The 2026 Annual Conference of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets, hosted in partnership with Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, represents a powerful platform to advance these objectives. By bringing together leaders from exchanges, regulators, brokerage firms, and institutional investors, the conference will help shape the next chapter of Arab capital markets through meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas.
As Sole Corporate Access Partner, Arqaam Capital is proud to support this initiative and to contribute to strengthening connections between regional issuers and global investors. By fostering engagement and facilitating capital flows, we aim to help accelerate the moment when Arab markets claim their rightful place in every global institutional portfolio.
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About AFCM
The Arab Federation of Capital Markets was established in June 1978 to be the guiding body for the Arab stock exchanges, under the recommendation of the Arab Central Banks Conference, held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The headquarter of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets is located in Beirut, Lebanon.
The AFCM is the Arab industry group for 18 exchanges and 7 Clearing houses (CSD’s), and multiple of affiliate members (financial institutions, brokerage firms) from all around the Arab regions (GCC, Levant and Arab African countries). The Federation was set up to contribute to the development of regulations and promoting harmonized and proactive legislations, and exchanging viewpoints and providing opportunities for cooperation among members.
About Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) was established on 15 November 2000 pursuant to Local Law No. (3) of 2000, which granted the Exchange legal rights with independent financial and administrative status, as well as the necessary supervisory and executive powers necessary to carry out its functions. On 17 March 2020, the ADX was converted from a public entity into a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) in accordance with Law No. (8) of 2020.
The ADX Group, a market infrastructure group comprising the Exchange (ADX) and its post-trade ecosystem, including its wholly owned subsidiaries AD Depository and AD Clear, was established. Through its integrated and globally aligned business structure, the ADX Group supports efficient, transparent, and resilient capital markets across trading, clearing, settlement, and custody. The ADX Group is part of ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies, with a broad portfolio of leading enterprises across key sectors of Abu Dhabi’s economy.
The ADX provides an efficient and regulated marketplace for the trading of securities, including equities issued by public joint stock companies, bonds issued by governments and corporations, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other financial instruments approved by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The ADX is the second-largest exchange in the Arab region by market capitalization. Its strategy of delivering stable financial performance through diversified revenue streams is aligned with the UAE’s national development agenda, “Towards the Next 50”, which aims to build a sustainable, diversified and high-value-added economy.
About the Conference
The AFCM Annual Conference stands today as the premier gathering for the Arab capital markets community, uniting decision-makers, policymakers, and financial professionals from regional and international institutions. Over the years, it has become a cornerstone event that promotes knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and cross-border cooperation.
The 2026 edition in Abu Dhabi, hosted by Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), and in collaboration with Arqaam Capital, the Sole Corporate Access Partner, will provide a vital platform to explore key themes shaping today’s financial landscape, from market modernization, digital transformation to cross-border connectivity and evolving market infrastructure. Discussions will cover energy trading, market making, derivatives, ETFs, and the impact of AI valuations on markets, among other topics, to reflect the dynamic forces driving the next phase of capital market growth in the Arab region.
With Abu Dhabi’s dynamic financial landscape as its backdrop, the AFCM Annual Conference 2026 will reaffirm the Federation’s commitment to driving innovation, deepening regional ties, and positioning the Arab world’s capital markets as an integral force in the global financial arena.
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