Arab bourses withstand Iran war to post higher trading value

The value of shares traded across Arab stock exchanges rose in the first nine months of 2026, despite the Iran war weighing on investor sentiment.

Trading value reached almost $825 billion between January and September, an increase of 18 percent year on year, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported.

The combined market capitalisation of the Arab bourses hit $4.3 trillion by the end of September.

This reflected continued market activity and resilience amid regional volatility this year, Fadi Kanso, secretary general of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM), said.

Established in June 1978 and headquartered in Beirut, the AFCM comprises 18 exchanges, seven clearing houses and multiple affiliate members from the GCC, Levant and Arab African countries, according to its website.

Further reading:

• Saudi Red Sea oil stocks slump after pipeline attack
• Turkish markets feel heat from asset management meltdown
• Egypt tweaks tax to woo investors and companies to bourse

Kanso said the number of transactions reached 135 million in the first nine months, up 10 percent year on year.

“The markets have passed through three main phases since the beginning of the year: a positive start during the first two months, followed by a period of shock and risk repricing, followed by a phase of relative stability and cautious recovery,” he said.

Ghannam Butti Almazrouei, chairman of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group, said changes in global trade and markets are increasingly directing investors towards markets that combine growth and stability.

Aggregate profits of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange-listed companies rose 38 percent year on year in the first half of 2026, while dividend distributions reached $14 billion, he said.