Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Emirates NBD Securities, a leading brokerage in the UAE and a subsidiary of Emirates NBD, has announced that its customers can now trade shares in Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, expanding their access to the wider Gulf markets. The firm’s clients already have access to the Saudi Exchange, in addition to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM).
In a statement issued earlier, the company said the expansion “gives investors a single, seamless entry point into some of the region’s most active exchanges at a time when the Gulf’s capital markets are gaining significant traction.”
Speaking to Aletihad, Hessa Al Mulla, General Manager, Emirates NBD Securities, said the move allows clients to directly trade equities across all key GCC markets through a single, integrated platform, simplifying the process and eliminating the need for multiple accounts or cash transfers.
“Broadening access means that our customers can now directly trade equities across all key GCC markets through one integrated platform,” she said.
According to Al Mulla, the trading experience will remain consistent across markets. “Investors will experience the same trading process for these new markets as they currently do for the DFM and ADX,” she explained. “All transactions are managed under a single, integrated Emirates NBD bank account, providing a seamless trading experience across multiple markets.”
Clients can choose to trade using their dirham accounts or through dedicated foreign currency accounts. “For active traders, we generally recommend establishing a separate foreign currency account to mitigate potential foreign exchange losses and to streamline the settlement process,” Al Mulla noted.
The company said that charges for trading in the new GCC markets will follow prevailing market standards in each jurisdiction, ensuring transparency and competitive pricing.
On the Saudi Exchange, Al Mulla clarified that clients need to visit the Emirates NBD Jumeirah branch to obtain an individual investor number before accessing the market.
However, trading in Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar will be available once clients sign a simple addendum, as trades will be executed through Emirates NBD Securities’ omnibus account—removing the need for separate investor registrations.
Commenting on future plans, Al Mulla said the GCC expansion is a “critical step” toward building a foundation for future access to global markets, including India.
“We recognise the significant Indian investor base in the UAE. Access to the Indian stock market remains part of our roadmap to provide greater market access to investors, and we look forward to delivering upon our pipeline in line with the established regulatory guidelines,” the Emirates NBD Securities official said.
The UAE has seen strong investor interest in accessing various global markets. Acknowledging this trend, Al Mulla said: “As we build upon our technology infrastructure to support further expansion in the future, we plan to roll out access to additional global markets in line with the required regulatory frameworks in place.”
She concluded that the company’s mission is to transform how investors engage with GCC capital markets by providing direct and integrated access to all major exchanges through a single platform backed by Emirates NBD Group’s advanced digital infrastructure. “By consolidating all major regional markets onto our platform, we are not only expanding reach but also creating an investment ecosystem that anticipates client needs, supports informed decisions and builds a framework for sustained financial growth,” she said.
“This expansion reinforces our strategy to make cross-border investing straightforward, providing clients clarity, control and the ability to capitalise on opportunities across the GCC,” she added.
