Capital markets in UAE set for listings boost

A draft law in the United Arab Emirates will see more family-run corporates listing, while pension reforms will create a huge pool of investable assets.

The Dubai International Financial Centre

The UAE has inked a draft law encouraging family-owned businesses to list, while an emerging pensions industry in Dubai is expected to widen its net of investors – both marking key developments in the growth of the region’s capital markets.

Improving access to capital for the UAE’s corporates is essential to creating a sustainable, diversified economy as the region looks to a future without oil.

The move comes on the back of the Gulf’s inclusion in the MSCI and FTSE Russell indices, which has helped cement the region as a key focus for international investors.

The Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates’ draft law will facilitate the listing of family-owned businesses on domestic stock exchanges, a move which is expected to improve the diversity and liquidity of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Dubai Financial Market, and is welcomed by bankers and investors.

“This type of reform and market...

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