Published: 2026-08-21
Companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) increased their aggregate profits by 38% in the first half of 2026 compared with the first half of 2025, according to data released by the exchange on Friday, 2026-08-21, and reported by Gulf News the same day. The growth came with a 99% disclosure compliance rate: 100 of the 101 actively traded listed companies filed their reviewed half-year financial statements within the legally required 45 days from the end of the reporting period. ADX currently has 104 listed companies, three of which have been suspended from trading for more than six months. For investors and business owners looking at the UAE, the message is simple: corporate earnings in Abu Dhabi are accelerating sharply, and the market is reporting them on time and in full.
What ADX reported for the first half of 2026
The release covers the reviewed interim financial statements for the six months to 2026-06-30. Under UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) rules, listed companies must publish quarterly and half-year results within 45 days of the end of the period, and audited annual results within 90 days of the financial year-end. For H1 2026 the deadline for most companies fell in mid-August, which is why the exchange published its compliance tally on 2026-08-21.
- Aggregate profits of listed companies: up 38% year on year for H1 2026.
- Disclosure compliance: 99%, with 100 of 101 actively traded companies reporting on time.
- Reporting window: 45 days from the end of the relevant financial period.
- Total listed companies: 104, of which 3 are suspended from trading for more than six months and were excluded from the count.
ADX did not publish the absolute profit figure in the release cited by Gulf News, only the percentage change. We have therefore not estimated it: the 38% rate is the official number, and the base for comparison is the first half of 2025.
How this compares with the previous reporting periods
The first-half number is a clear acceleration. In the Q1 2026 disclosure round, announced on 2026-05-22, ADX reported the same 99% compliance rate and a 17% rise in aggregate profits against Q1 2025. For the full year 2025, listed companies posted combined net profits above AED 200 billion, up 17% year on year, and distributed close to AED 74 billion in dividends, with 99 of 101 companies filing audited results within the 90-day window (98% compliance). Moving from 17% growth in Q1 to 38% for the half year means the second quarter of 2026 was exceptionally strong for Abu Dhabi issuers.
| Period | Aggregate profit growth | Disclosure compliance | Companies on time |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 (audited) | +17%, above AED 200 billion | 98% | 99 of 101 |
| Q1 2026 (reviewed) | +17% | 99% | 100 of 101 |
| H1 2026 (reviewed) | +38% | 99% | 100 of 101 |
Individual results published over the summer already pointed in this direction. We covered the TAQA H1 2026 results, where profit rose 9.7% to AED 4.1 billion and an AED 899 million interim dividend was approved, and the Space42 share buyback approval that followed 15% revenue growth. The aggregate 38% figure indicates that the largest issuers, including banks, energy and holding companies, delivered well above those single-company numbers.
Why the 99% compliance rate matters as much as the profit growth
A profit headline is only as credible as the reporting behind it. The 45-day rule is one of the stricter disclosure timelines among emerging markets, and a 99% on-time rate means investors receive comparable, reviewed data for essentially the whole market at the same moment. For ADX this is part of a deliberate strategy: timely disclosure supports index inclusion, passive fund flows and the exchange’s position as the second-largest market in the Arab world by capitalisation. For a foreign investor assessing UAE equities, it removes one of the classic emerging-market risks, namely late or missing financials.
What this means for businesses and investors in the UAE
The ADX numbers are a macro signal, not just a stock-market statistic. When listed companies grow profits by 38% in six months, the effect spreads through the economy: larger capital expenditure programmes, more procurement from local contractors and suppliers, stronger bank lending appetite and higher dividend income flowing to shareholders, many of whom are UAE-based holding companies and family offices.
- Suppliers and contractors: listed groups in energy, utilities, real estate and logistics are the largest buyers of services in Abu Dhabi. A UAE-registered company is a prerequisite to be onboarded as a vendor.
- Investors: dividend income and capital gains from ADX-listed shares are not subject to personal income tax in the UAE, and a UAE company can hold the portfolio. Corporate tax of 9% applies to business profits above AED 375,000, with a participation exemption for qualifying shareholdings.
- Founders: rising profits among listed peers improve valuations and exit options for private companies in the same sectors, and make Abu Dhabi an attractive jurisdiction for a holding structure.
To invest in ADX-listed shares as a company, you need a UAE legal entity, a corporate bank account and an investor number (NIN) from the exchange. The first two steps are where most foreign founders lose time. Our company setup in the UAE service covers the licence, registered address and visas, and our bank account opening service prepares the file that UAE banks expect from a new entity, including source-of-funds documentation for investment activity.
How Atlant Capital can help
Atlant Capital sets up and supports companies in the UAE for founders and investors from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and the wider CIS. If your goal is to participate in the Abu Dhabi market, whether as a supplier to listed groups or as a shareholder, we structure the entity, open the corporate bank account, obtain residence visas and handle the corporate tax registration, so that the company is ready to trade and invest from day one.
- Choice of jurisdiction: mainland Abu Dhabi or Dubai, ADGM, DIFC or a free zone, depending on activity and banking needs.
- Holding and investment structures with corporate tax analysis.
- Corporate bank account with a UAE bank, including the compliance file for investment income.
- Ongoing support: renewals, visas, tax filings.
Conclusion
ADX-listed companies grew aggregate profits by 38% in the first half of 2026 and reported them with 99% on-time compliance. Taken together with 17% growth in Q1 and more than AED 200 billion of net profit in 2025, the figures show the Abu Dhabi market moving from steady growth to a sharp acceleration in 2026. For businesses serving these companies and for investors looking at UAE equities, the time to have a UAE structure in place is before the next reporting season, not after it.
FAQ
By how much did ADX-listed companies increase profits in H1 2026?
Aggregate profits of companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange rose 38% in the first half of 2026 compared with the first half of 2025, according to data released by ADX on 2026-08-21. In Q1 2026 the growth rate was 17%, so the second quarter was markedly stronger.
What is the ADX disclosure compliance rate for the first half of 2026?
99%. Of the 101 actively traded listed companies, 100 published their reviewed half-year financial statements within the legally required 45 days from the end of the reporting period. ADX has 104 listed companies in total, three of which are suspended from trading for more than six months.
How many days do UAE listed companies have to publish financial results?
Quarterly and half-year reviewed financial statements must be disclosed within 45 days of the end of the period, and audited annual financial statements within 90 days of the financial year-end, under SCA rules. For H1 2026 the 45-day deadline for most ADX companies fell in mid-August.
Can a foreign-owned UAE company invest in ADX-listed shares?
Yes. A UAE-registered company, including a 100% foreign-owned mainland or free zone entity, can open a corporate bank account, obtain an investor number from ADX and trade listed shares. Dividends and capital gains are not taxed at the personal level in the UAE, and qualifying shareholdings can benefit from the participation exemption under the 9% corporate tax regime.
