baraka has added direct access to stocks listed on the Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, allowing eligible investors to build UAE and international portfolios through a single investment account.
For a new generation of UAE investors, building a portfolio no longer necessarily means looking overseas first. As the country’s public markets deepen and attract a broader investor base, access to locally listed companies is also becoming easier through digital investment platforms.
DIFC-based investment platform baraka has introduced access to companies listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), allowing eligible customers to invest in UAE stocks directly through its app.
Local investments can be funded in dirhams, while UAE-listed companies will sit alongside the nearly 10,000 local and international assets available through a single baraka account.
The launch is particularly notable given the profile of the platform’s investor base: more than 70% of baraka investors are under 35, pointing to growing interest in investing among younger customers.
Bringing UAE Companies Into Digital Portfolios
The addition gives eligible investors another digital route into companies trading on the UAE’s two major exchanges.
Among the UAE stocks that attracted the most interest from baraka customers during its initial rollout were Emaar Properties, ADNOC Gas, ADNOC Distribution, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Salik, spanning sectors including real estate, energy, financial services and infrastructure.
According to baraka, the number of customers investing in UAE stocks through the platform had increased more than 25-fold by August compared with its initial pre-launch pilot.
The platform has also integrated support for obtaining the Investor Number required for local-market participation into its onboarding process, reducing the need for customers to complete a separate application outside the platform.
Local shares are purchased as whole shares, funded in AED and held in customers’ names, with Emirates NBD acting as custodian for UAE securities, according to the company.
UAE Exchanges Broaden Their Investor Bases
The launch comes during a period of expanding participation across both UAE exchanges.
DFM ended June 2026 with a market capitalisation of AED981.6 billion, while total traded value during the first half reached AED119.5 billion, up 40.4%. The exchange added 42,864 investors during the period, with international investors accounting for 71.4% of new registrations.
ADX, meanwhile, reached a market capitalisation of AED2.8 trillion at the end of June. H1 trading value stood at AED171 billion, while 50.3 billion shares changed hands. The exchange also continued expanding investor participation and market connectivity during the period.
The figures provide useful context for the growing role of investment apps. As exchanges add investors and broaden access, digital platforms can create another connection between listed companies and individuals who may previously have focused primarily on international securities.
Younger Investors Look Closer to Home
baraka says around two-thirds of its funded customers had never invested before joining the platform. Among customers who joined during 2026, 42% selected long-term investing as their objective.
Since local investing became available, the company says 87% of UAE-stock orders placed through the platform have been purchase orders.
While that early platform data does not represent the wider UAE investor population, it provides an indication of how baraka’s customers are approaching local equities; particularly as younger investors gain easier access to companies operating within the economy around them.
Founder and CEO Feras Jalbout said the expansion gives Emiratis and residents an opportunity to include businesses contributing to the country’s economic growth alongside international investments in their portfolios.
DFM Chief Operating Officer Khalifa Rabba said expanding access through regulated digital investment platforms can support broader market participation and make it easier for investors to incorporate local stocks into diversified portfolios.
ADX Director of Product & Market Development Omar Alserkal similarly highlighted the role brokerage and investment platforms can play in making capital markets more accessible and connected.
One Account, Broader Investment Choices
Adding DFM and ADX stocks is part of baraka’s expansion beyond international equities. Its offering now spans UAE and US securities, options, precious metals and Shariah-compliant investment choices.
The Shariah element is also emerging as a notable part of the platform’s usage. Baraka Financial Limited received approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority in July 2026 for an Islamic Window, allowing it to offer conventional and Shariah-compliant assets. According to the company, around 58% of funded customers have used its Sharia Screener.
Access to ADX and DFM securities through baraka is facilitated by Arqaam Capital through a Direct Market Access arrangement.
For the UAE’s investment landscape, the significance extends beyond another feature being added to an app. It reflects a broader shift in how investors; particularly younger and first-time participants, can reach domestic capital markets.
With DFM and ADX attracting new investors and digital platforms reducing the steps required to access listed securities, investing in UAE companies is increasingly becoming part of the same digital experience as building a global portfolio.
Sources: baraka; Dubai Financial Market; Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange; Dubai Financial Services Authority.
