Dubai and Abu Dhabi Stock Exchanges Plunge Sharply After Iran Attack, How About the Rest of the Region?

Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges fell sharply on Wednesday (3 March 2026), with trading resuming after a two-day pause caused by Iranian missile and drone strikes on the Gulf region. Reuters reported that the UAE market authorities closed the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market on 2-3 March to prevent market panic. The move was rare; exchanges normally close only on official holidays or national days of mourning. Combined, the two bourses had a market capitalisation of around USD 1.1 trillion. The temporary closure froze billions of dollars of asset transactions. Trading reopened and selling pressure emerged immediately. Dubai’s main index, the DFMGI, dropped 4.7 percent, the steepest fall since May 2022. Shares of property developer Emaar Properties fell 4.9 percent; Air Arabia, a low-cost carrier, was down 5 percent; Emirates NBD declined 5 percent. Abu Dhabi’s index, the FTFADGI, fell 3.6 percent, also the deepest drop since May 2022. First Abu Dhabi Bank shares slipped 5 percent. The energy sector was also pressured, with Dana Gas and TAQA down 5 percent each; Aldar Properties fell 5 percent. ADNOC, the state energy company, came under pressure, with selling activity in the sector occurring simultaneously. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange urged listed companies to assess the financial and operational impact of the geopolitical situation and to disclose material information that could influence investor decisions.