ADX overhauls market infrastructure with new group + post-trade units: Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) launched a new holding structure, ADX Group, to oversee its capital markets’ infrastructure, in a bid to modernize the way trades are cleared, settled and stored on the exchange, it said in a statement. This includes the launch of two new post-trade units: its clearinghouse, Abu Dhabi Clear (AD Clear), and its settlement hub Abu Dhabi Central Securities Depository (AD CSD). The move aims to deepen market liquidity, attract foreign institutional capital, and streamline market operations.

Who’s who? AD Clear will function as the ADX’s central counterparty clearinghouse with the aim of reducing counterparty risk and facilitating settlement mechanisms, while AD CSD will manage and run the securities depository and custody services for the exchange along with processing corporate actions.

What they said: “Our enhanced trading system aims to increase resilience and performance by 400%, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a global financial hub,” the group’s CEO Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi said.

ADX tapped Nasdaq for the upgrade: Nasdaq is delivering a core platform upgrade (CPU) responsible for modernizing the ADX’s trading, clearing and post-trade services. The upgrade integrates multiple asset classes (including ETFs, debt instruments, and derivatives) into a single platform and introduces new order types for greater flexibility. The ADX has also introduced new messaging protocols, a new customer management system, an upgraded corporate website, and a mobile app.

The launch comes amid surging trading volumes on the ADX, with daily transactions rising 27.5% YTD, Alnuaimi said in a separate statement to state news agency Wam. The exchange has also recorded a 30% increase in the number of investors since the start of 2025, reflecting growing confidence in the UAE’s capital markets.”We have the most active ETF market in the region and the most active derivatives market in the region, which saw a significant 150% increase last year,” he added.

The ADX aims to be among the top ten stock exchanges globally in the next few years in terms of market value, Alnuaimi said whilst speaking to Al Etihad. It currently sits at 18th in the rankings with a AED 2.9 tn in market value. The new group, along with profitability of listed companies, active trading activity, and streamlined operations, put the exchange in good stead for its goal, he said.

REMEMBER- The ADX has a strong IPO pipeline this quarter, with Etihad Airways likely pulling the trigger on its highly anticipated IPO this week, while Alpha Data is set to start trading on the bourse in March.

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