UAE stock markets saw liquidity top AED 1.8 billion as large direct trades and selective buying sent Abu Dhabi and Dubai in different directions. Regional exchanges posted mixed results.
Big direct trades and targeted buying pushed liquidity in the UAE's stock markets higher on September 23, 2026. Turnover hit Dh2.22 billion on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Dh692 million on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). The ADX index rose 0.359% to 10,269.01. The DFM edged up 0.182% to 6,008.03. This kept the region's selective upward trend going, even as global markets stayed volatile. Details are available from Aletihad News Center.
Abu Dhabi's market got a big boost from a bulk trade in First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) worth Dh804 million. This was the main driver of the day's turnover. There were 23,929 trades and 466 million shares changed hands, showing just how concentrated the action was. XTB MENA analyst Milad Azar said the rally was backed by banking and ADNOC-linked stocks. The FAB deal lifted liquidity and showed steady interest in energy shares. This fits the pattern of sector rotation and selective moves that have shaped UAE trading in September, as Reuters has reported.
Major deals and selective buying
In Dubai, "Emaar Properties" led the way with Dh151.74 million in turnover and closed up 0.17% at Dh11.68. "Salik" followed with Dh50.9 million in trades, rising 1.99% to Dh5.64. Still, the Dubai index slipped 0.42% to 5,983.05 points. Gains in "Aman" (up 14.9%), "Al Ramz" (up 2.34%), and "Amanat Holdings" (up 2.03%) were not enough to offset drops in "TECOM" (down 3.86%), "Tabreed" (down 3.3%), "Mashreq Bank" (down 3.03%), and "Emirates NBD" (down 2.48%).
A single direct deal in "Union Energy Holding" stood out. It saw 27.35 million shares traded for Dh82.32 million at Dh3.01 per share. Emirati investors kept a net buying position, with Dh12.6 million in net purchases after buying Dh358.6 million and selling Dh345.97 million.
Abu Dhabi's general index (FADX 15) closed at 10,205.96, down 0.61%. "ADNOC Gas" led trading with Dh221 million in turnover. "Aldar Properties" followed at Dh105.84 million, and "First Abu Dhabi Bank" at Dh71.65 million. Three direct deals in FAB totaled Dh41.6 million, covering 2.07 million shares at Dh20.1 each. Top gainers included "Hayat Insurance" (up 7.5%), "MIR Group" (up 2.51%), "Pure Health Holding" (up 2.15%), and "Sudatel Telecom" (up 1.84%). On the losing side were "National Bank of Fujairah" (down 5%), "Americana Restaurants" (down 4.13%), "Invest Bank" (down 3.12%), and "ARAM Group" (down 2.44%).
Regional markets and macroeconomic context
Most Gulf exchanges fell. Saudi Arabia's TASI index dropped 0.77% to 10,599, its lowest in two months. Trading volume was SAR 3.5 billion. "Al Asmak" lost 10%, "Naseej" fell 8%, and "Arabia" dropped 4%. "Al Rajhi Bank" and "Ma'aden" slipped 2% and 3%. "Aramco" rose 1% to SAR 25.78. Qatar's main index fell 0.71%. Muscat edged down 0.04%. Kuwait and Bahrain posted small gains of 0.04% and 0.03%. Egypt's EGX 30 lost 0.83%. Market capitalization shrank by EGP 58.135 billion to EGP 4.238 trillion. The EGX 70 Equal Weight index fell 1.92%. The EGX 100 Equal Weight index dropped 1.7%.
Jordan's exchange was one of the few gainers, up 0.75% to 4,125 points. Strong buying in leading shares drove the move. Financial, services, and industrial indices all rose. Forty-seven companies gained, while 28 fell. Trading value reached JOD 14.1 million.
Monetary policy and currency implications
UAE and regional markets are still reacting to global monetary policy signals. The US Federal Reserve recently kept rates steady, as shown in the FOMC policy calendar. This has kept the US dollar strong and affected GCC currency pegs and capital flows. The European Central Bank and Bank of England have both signaled caution as inflation stays high. This has added to swings in sovereign bond yields and currency markets. The Central Bank of the UAE keeps the dirham pegged to the US dollar, which helps hold currency stability even as global conditions shift.
Market capitalization and investor shifts
Total market capitalization for UAE stocks reached Dh3.66 trillion. Abu Dhabi accounted for Dh2.667 trillion, Dubai for Dh993.3 billion. The day's trading showed a clear preference for big, liquid stocks and direct deals. Investors kept moving between sectors and markets to find opportunities. This matches recent sessions, where UAE indices have moved in a selective way, often led by heavyweight stocks. Reuters has tracked these patterns in its September coverage.
These moves come as global markets stay sensitive to changes in liquidity and risk appetite. As reported earlier, rising government bond yields in major economies are already changing capital flows and investor behavior. The Bank for International Settlements has also pointed to the impact of higher rates on emerging market currencies and cross-border investment.
UAE equity markets keep drawing strong liquidity, but the split between Abu Dhabi and Dubai shows how much sector focus and big trades matter. Local investors have shown they can adapt fast, using selective buying and direct deals. This points to a market where tactical moves matter more than broad rallies. Agility and a clear grasp of market structure are key, especially as regional and global headwinds continue.
Direct deals, or block trades, let big investors buy or sell large volumes outside the open market, often at agreed prices. These trades can shape overall liquidity and price discovery, especially in markets where a few stocks dominate turnover. In the UAE, such deals are reported separately from regular trading. This gives transparency but also shows how much activity is concentrated in a handful of names. For regular investors, knowing how these trades work and what they mean is important, since they can move prices in the short term and affect the market over time.
