Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
UAE retail investors are showing strong confidence in domestic stock markets, according to the latest UAE Retail Investor Beat by eToro.
An impressive 85% of investors are currently holding UAE-listed stocks: split across Abu Dhabi (39%), Dubai (28%), and both markets (18%).
This growing preference is underpinned by widespread optimism. A total of 63% of investors are very confident in the UAE’s current economic performance, the report noted.
A total of 59% of respondents said they are “very confident” in the long-term performance of UAE stocks, and 48% are expecting significant gains over the next year.
Regionally, 58% believe the Middle East will offer the best returns over the next five years, just ahead of the US at 50%.
The most promising UAE sectors, according to the investors surveyed, include real estate (55%), technology (48%), financial services (37%), as well as energy (37%).
Most are leaning deeper into UAE equities (53%) or shifting towards commodities (51%) like gold, which 49% cite as the most resilient asset.
Crypto remains a strong player too, with 54% already invested.
Further, 65% have increased their portfolio contributions recently, and 76% expect to continue doing so in the coming quarter.
George Naddaf, Managing Director of eToro MENA, spoke to Aletihad about how these trends align with eToro’s latest move: the launch of 24/5 trading for UAE investors.
“eToro’s mission has always been to open the global markets, making trading accessible to anyone, anywhere. We expect that more trades will now happen after hours-aligned around news cycles rather than exchanges’ opening hours,” he said.
Transparency remains a priority, especially amid high volatility. “When users trade the actual underlying asset during extended hours, they get prices directly from Nasdaq and NYSE without markups on the spread,” Naddaf explained, adding that built-in safety systems suspend trading during extreme volatility.
During after-hours activity, tech stocks dominate. “In Q1, the top three stocks with the most users trading in extended hours were Tesla, Broadcom, and Microsoft. In Q2, Alibaba climbed to the top, followed by Alphabet and Tesla,” he said.
Interest in pharma and gold also surged in Q2, especially after regulatory and legal news around weight-loss drugs.
Looking at long-term investment behaviour, Naddaf observed: “Emirati and UAE residents are showing robust long-term interest in EVs, AI, and health-tech.”
He noted sharp quarterly increases in eToro users holding Hims & Hers Health (+85%), BYD (+41%), and Lucid Group (+27%).
Nvidia, meanwhile, remains the most held stock both locally and globally.
The integration of UAE PASS is another leap in localising access. “It pulls verified ID and address details straight from the government system, so users do not need to upload documents,” said Naddaf.
This move supports eToro’s broader localisation strategy and fraud prevention.
On regulation, he added, “Our global experience operating across 75 countries positions us well to navigate complexities while continuing to provide retail investors with the resources and tools they desire to build wealth.”
Investor protection is also embedded in the platform’s core. “We provide clearly signposted disclosures and risk management tools like stop loss, and monitor unusual trading activity,” he said, stressing safeguards against impulsive trading.
With 87% of UAE retail investors now embracing fintech platforms, eToro is leading the way in financial education through its dynamic Academy and cutting-edge AI assistant, Tori.
These tools are designed to empower investors with accessible, personalised insights.
In turn, they make even complex topics like cryptoassets and commodities easier to understand and act on with confidence.
As for what’s next, Naddaf noted, “While we currently offer stocks listed on ADX and DFM, our expansion roadmap focuses on broadening our overall asset range to provide more diverse investment opportunities.”
