The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Group welcomed Morgan Stanley as the exchange’s first international investment bank Remote Trading Member. This milestone enables Morgan Stanley’s global client base to access the ADX directly through the firm’s own global trading platform, significantly strengthening Abu Dhabi’s global connectivity and institutional market depth.
The introduction of remote membership is a strategic move to meet the surging international demand for exposure to UAE capital markets. By allowing direct access, the new structure enhances execution quality, optimizes order routing, and provides institutional investors with greater control across the entire end-to-end trade lifecycle.
A catalyst for institutional growth
The partnership arrives as the ADX reinforces its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing exchanges by market capitalization. The exchange reported a stellar performance in the first quarter of 2026, with trading values exceeding AED 85billion, representing a 22 per cent increase year-on-year. This growth has been underpinned by a 14 per cent rise in foreign investment and a 10 per cent increase in institutional trading recorded throughout 2025.
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, group chief executive officer of ADX, described the move as a significant step in the exchange’s ambition to become a leading global financial marketplace. He noted that the momentum is reflected in strong foreign participation and reinforces the exchange’s commitment to building a world-class market infrastructure that attracts global capital and supports a diverse range of issuers.
Bridging global capital and UAE opportunities
For Morgan Stanley, the remote membership follows a proven international access model used in other major markets. The bank expects to begin trading as a remote member in the coming weeks, subject to final operational readiness.
Patrick Delivanis, regional co-head of MENA at Morgan Stanley, highlighted the ongoing institutionalization of UAE markets. He stated that becoming a Remote Trading Member reflects the firm’s focus on providing clients with efficient, seamless access to Abu Dhabi’s capital markets. Delivanis added that enabling direct connectivity to local markets provides international investors with the transparency and control required to navigate the evolving opportunities across the MENA region.
The move further aligns with Abu Dhabi’s long-term “Towards the Next 50” economic agenda, which aims to build a sustainable, innovation-led, and globally integrated economy. By selectively offering remote memberships to global firms, the ADX continues to attract high-quality cross-border liquidity and solidify its status as the second-largest exchange in the Arab region.
