For the first time, stocks listed in the United Arab Emirates have surpassed a combined market value of $1 trillion. This achievement reflects surging valuations in companies tied to Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan and a series of local listings. The UAE’s market now exceeds those of Milan and Madrid, although it remains smaller than Saudi Arabia’s nearly $3 trillion bourse.
A major contributor to this growth is International Holding Co. (IHC), chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon. IHC, the UAE’s largest public company, has grown an astonishing 43,000% in value over the past few years, reaching a market capitalization close to $250 billion — nearly a quarter of the UAE’s total market. Sheikh Tahnoon, a key figure in the UAE’s diversification strategy, also chairs First Abu Dhabi Bank, which, along with IHC, accounts for over 50% of Abu Dhabi’s FTSE ADX General Index.
IHC and its subsidiaries have made diverse investments, ranging from SpaceX and Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty to Aldar Properties, the largest property developer in Abu Dhabi. Originally a fish-farming firm, IHC is now a symbol of the UAE’s economic shift away from oil.
This milestone underscores Abu Dhabi’s ambition to transform into a global financial hub. By driving stock market growth, the ruling Al Nahyan family aims to attract international investment while fostering confidence among local investors.