Dubai Financial Markets Poised for Global Investments: Experts

Mustafa Abdel Azim (Dubai)

Officials and experts in global financial institutions and funds confirmed that the financial markets in the Emirates succeeded in gaining the trust and interest of global investors in the recent period, supported by the strength and momentum of successful IPOs and listings and the bottom -structure and the legislation that helps it. attract capital.
They pointed out, during the activities of the first day of the second edition of the Capital Markets Conference organized by the Dubai Financial Market, that the financial markets in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are equipped to move to a new level, when they are. possible, within a few years, to move from the classification of emerging markets to developed markets Due to the great diversification seen by the sectors, as well as the desire of international institutions, investors and funds from around the world to manage their sectors. investments in the Gulf region, especially in the Emirates, where the pace of growth is accelerating.
Helal Al Marri, Director General of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Financial Market, said at the opening session of the summit that the financial sector is at the heart of Dubai’s economic agenda. D33) to consolidate its position among the top 3 economic cities worldwide, underscoring the role of the financial sector in enabling other businesses to thrive, along with the importance of financing small businesses and central and capital markets.
Al Marri emphasized that the Dubai Financial Market is an integral part of the ecosystem. Therefore, he wants to ensure that the right management, regulatory bodies, global standards and regulations are in place to help the capital markets succeed. He pointed out that Dubai has become the headquarters of thousands of companies operating in the region, and attracts decision-makers from various financial sectors, including venture capital, private equity and hedge funds, due to its location and favorable business environment.
Meanwhile, Jim DeMar, President of Global Markets at Bank of America, during a session titled “Major Global Trends Are Reshaping Capital Markets,” praised the efforts made by the government in the UAE to strengthen the stability of economic growth, to expand the private sector. participation and increasing investor confidence by strengthening governance and transparency, noting the successful IPOs of private sector companies, the most recent of which was the IPO of Spence.
He said that the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries have emerged as an attractive investment destination, supported by long-term plans, compared to the unstable market outlook in many other regions of the world. -world.
During the session “Capital Markets Outlook in the Middle East and North Africa 2024: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities,” Gokul Mani, General Manager and Head of Capital Markets for Central and Eastern Europe, added Central and Africa – JPMorgan, emphasis on the rise. the luxury of local and international investors, driven by With high yields, asset quality, and expanding the scope of the sector, he noted the privatization strategy and the plans in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as key drivers of the successful public grants market.
In the same context, Prasad Chari, Managing Director of Emirates NBD Capital, pointed out that investor interest has shifted towards high-growth stock stories, especially in the technology and e-commerce sectors. In addition, Samer Daghili, HSBC’s Co-Head of Investment Banking Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, highlighted the importance of the UAE in global indices, attracting more capital and expanding individual investor base.
Finlay Wright – Head of Stock Market Solutions in the Middle East and Asia – Rothschild & Partners, noted that efforts by the UAE financial markets and the Securities and Products Authority to facilitate registration processes for companies, focused on stabilization of initial public offerings, finding solutions for settlement periods, and shortening the timeline between pricing and listing, While Christian Caban from Bank of America emphasized the need for diversification in capital market offerings in the sector Middle East and North Africa, including convertible bonds and convertible bonds to attract a wide range. range of investors.
For his part, Rudy Saadi, General Manager of Capital Markets at Citi, highlighted the growing investor interest in sectors other than real estate, banking and energy, such as healthcare, utilities, education and financial technology.

Launching the “Arena” platform for financing and listing private companies
During the summit, the Dubai Financial Market launched the innovative platform “Arena” to provide initial placement offers, which is designed to promote growth opportunities for companies and investors.
“Arena” provides a platform for a wide range of private companies. Including family business groups, small and medium enterprises, and companies at various stages of growth.
Through this platform, companies can easily access capital across various assets. Companies listed for placements in Arena will also have the option to restrict investor access to institutional investors, employees only, or family members and founders. For companies looking to raise funds above 35 million dirhams, Arena provides cost-effective access to a wide network of investors, and the platform is considered a regulated alternative to traditional financing methods , allowing private institutions direct access to capital markets.
Hamed Ali, CEO of the Dubai Financial Market said: The launch of the “Arena” platform represents an important move that confirms the commitment of the Dubai Financial Market to provide issuers and private companies with the latest ways to raise capital build and support their growth.