Trading volumes jump
Dubai's retail trading activity has accelerated sharply. In the first half of 2026 the Dubai Financial Market recorded a trading value of $32.5 billion, a 40 percent increase year-on-year. The Abu Dhabi exchange posted $46.6 billion in trades during the same period, underscoring a broader regional upswing.
Market observers note that statements from former US President Donald Trump have become instant signals for many investors in the United Arab Emirates, amplifying the speed at which capital moves.
Expats fuel the boom
Beyond geopolitical triggers, the surge reflects the profile of people who relocate to the Gulf. "Everyone that moves to the UAE is a risk taker by definition," said Tarik Chebib, Middle East CEO of online broker Capital.com. He explained that the UAE's tax-free environment and the lack of extensive social safety nets in many expatriates' home countries encourage a hands-on approach to wealth management.
"Here, you've got to figure it out yourself," Chebib said.
Chebib arrived in the UAE eleven years ago and recalls that brokerage accounts were a rarity. Today, most new clients already have trading experience, and the retail market is now comparable in size to Singapore's, a shift that would have been hard to imagine a few years ago.
What traders are buying
The range of assets attracting attention has broadened. Earlier in the year, gold and oil dominated headlines amid the war in Ukraine and fluctuating oil prices. More recently, investors have turned to artificial-intelligence stocks, US equities and exchange-traded products linked to the Nasdaq and S&P 500.
Chebib notes that the audience is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with many managing sizeable portfolios rather than dabbling in occasional day trades.
Looking ahead
As the retail base expands, the market is likely to remain sensitive to external cues, from US political commentary to global commodity trends. Analysts expect the UAE to continue courting high-net-worth expatriates, reinforcing the conditions that have turned Dubai into a hub for retail investors.
Future growth will depend on how regulators balance investor protection with the desire to maintain a vibrant, tax-friendly environment. For now, the combination of a risk-taking expatriate community and rapid information flows suggests that Dubai's retail trading sector will keep shaping the broader Gulf financial landscape.