ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has launched the FTSE ADX Dividend Stars Index, a new benchmark designed to give investors access to high-dividend-paying companies listed in the emirate. The index, now live, is the first of its kind in the region and expands the exchange’s suite of investment tools under its partnership with FTSE Russell.
According to ADX, the index begins with 17 constituent companies representing a diverse mix of sectors in Abu Dhabi’s economy, including communication services, industrials, energy, financials, consumer discretionary, consumer staples and basic materials. These companies collectively accounted for more than 70% of all dividend payouts made by ADX-listed firms in 2025. Their combined net profit for the first three quarters of the year rose 20% compared with the same period in 2024, reflecting the strong fundamentals and resilience of the group.
The launch marks the 17th index within the FTSE ADX index series and the fifth headline index under the FTSE Russell partnership. ADX said the addition strengthens its drive to deepen the market and widen the range of thematic benchmarks available to investors. The new index complements other offerings such as the FTSE ADX ESG Screened Index and FTSE ADX 15 Islamic Index, which aim to provide diversification and transparent performance metrics across different investment themes.
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of ADX Group, said the launch presents a new opportunity for income-focused investors and reinforces the market’s strategic role in the UAE’s economic development.
“The FTSE ADX Dividend Stars Index opens a new avenue for investors seeking stable and growing income, backed by Abu Dhabi’s solid and resilient capital market. With a transparent, data-driven benchmark that tracks companies with strong dividend profiles, the index enhances liquidity, elevates issuer visibility, and strengthens investor confidence in our strong and dynamic capital market. This innovative index further reinforces our pivotal role in Abu Dhabi’s economic growth by attracting capital, supporting company expansion, and empowering our investment community to participate in the emirate’s ongoing success.”
Gerald Toledano, Global Head of Equities and Multi Assets at FTSE Russell, said the new index expands the availability of reliable, rules-based benchmarks for regional and global investors. “Our partnership with ADX continues to expand investor access to transparent, rules-based benchmarks that reflect the region’s growth and maturity. The new FTSE ADX Dividend Stars Index provides a robust framework for tracking higher dividend performance, supporting both income-seeking investors and Abu Dhabi’s vibrant capital market.”
ADX highlighted that listed companies on the exchange have distributed more than Dh320 billion in cash dividends over the past five years—representing a compound annual growth rate of nearly 33%. Over the same period, ADX has more than doubled its market capitalisation and has been the region’s best-performing exchange, outperforming the FTSE Emerging Markets Index.
The index is built using the FTSE Target Diversification Method, which allows flexible adjustments to ensure balanced weightings, reduce concentration risk and maintain income stability while tracking high-dividend equities.