Nasdaq Dubai to be closed for 2 days due to ongoing military conflict in region

03/03/2026 04:14 AST

Nasdaq Dubai will remain closed for two days due to the ongoing military conflict in the region.

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent banking, financial services, and markets regulator of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), on Monday announced the temporary closure of Nasdaq Dubai, effective Monday, March 2, 2026, and Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Nasdaq Dubai is the international financial exchange serving the region between Western Europe and East Asia. The exchange currently lists shares, derivatives, Sukuk (Islamic bonds), conventional bonds and Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits). The majority shareholder of Nasdaq Dubai is Dubai Financial Market, with a two-thirds stake. Borse Dubai owns one-third of the shares. The regulator of Nasdaq Dubai is the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

"The DFSA continues to closely monitor developments in the region, and remains in regular contact with local authorities and relevant advisories," said a statement issued on Monday.

On Sunday, the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA) announced closure of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market on Monday and Tuesday.

"In implementation of its supervisory and regulatory role over the UAE capital markets, and pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations, the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA) announces that the UAE capital markets (Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Dubai Financial Market (DFM) will be closed on Monday, March 2, and Tuesday, March 3, 2026," the regulator said in a statement.

In 2025, Nasdaq Dubai attracted a record number of Sukuk listings, supported by sustained issuance activity from regional and international issuers and continued global investor demand for Sharia-compliant debt instruments.

By the end of 2025, the total value of outstanding debt securities listed across Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Nasdaq Dubai reached $150.9 billion, with Nasdaq Dubai accounting for $146.1 billion of the total.

The exchange's Sukuk market has expanded significantly over the past decade, with the value of outstanding listings increasing eightfold since 2013, from $12.6 billion to more than $100 billion. Since inception, Nasdaq Dubai has hosted more than $245 billion in cumulative bonds and Sukuk issuances, including $177 billion in Sukuk.

Khaleej Times