Morgan Stanley Joins ADX as First International Trading Member Opening New Avenues for Global Investors
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has marked a significant milestone in its evolution by welcoming Morgan Stanley as its inaugural international investment bank to join as a Remote Trading Member. This development stands to enhance direct market accessibility for Morgan Stanley's clients, allowing them to trade seamlessly on the ADX.
This historic partnership reflects ADX's commitment to improving its global connections amidst rising international interest in the UAE markets. By enabling Morgan Stanley to operate on its platform, ADX reinforces its position as one of the world's rapidly growing exchanges, particularly noted for its market capitalization. This collaboration comes at a crucial time as ADX seeks to fulfill its potential as a mechanism for diversifying Abu Dhabi’s economy, focused on innovation and knowledge.
Morgan Stanley’s clients can now utilize the firm's cutting-edge global trading platform to engage with the ADX directly. This not only streamlines trading processes but also assures improved execution quality and efficient order routing. The partnership aims to offer investors a modernized trading experience while promoting enhanced control over the entire trading lifecycle.
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, the Group Chief Executive Officer of ADX, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in advancing ADX's ambitions to establish itself as a premier financial marketplace. He highlighted that the trading value exceeded 85 billion dirhams in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 22% rise compared to the previous year. This thriving performance showcases the growing depth of the market and its global relevance while underscoring ADX's efforts to broaden international access and bolster cross-border connectivity.
Morgan Stanley’s Regional Co-Head of MENA, Patrick Delivanis, described the Remote Trading Membership as reflective of the bank's strategic intent to provide clients with efficient and seamless access to the UAE capital markets. With the traction that the UAE markets are gaining in the institutional landscape, Morgan Stanley is eager to facilitate direct access for international investors to capitalize on opportunities present in the MENA region. This is pivotal as it continues to enhance transparency and control throughout the trading lifecycle.
Moreover, Morgan Stanley's inclusion aligns perfectly with ADX's broader strategy to foster international connectivity in finance. Remote memberships are selectively offered to global firms to nurture high-quality cross-border liquidity. This announcement follows a commendable growth trend from 2025, where foreign investments surged by almost 14%, while institutional trading rose by 10%.
Upon achieving final operational readiness, Morgan Stanley plans to commence trading as a remote member in the near future, marking a key step forward in expanding ADX's international outreach.
Established on November 15, 2000, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange has grown to become the second-largest exchange in the Arab region based on market capitalization. Its transition from a public entity to a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) in March 2020 further solidified its legal and operational framework, empowering it to fulfill its objectives in the evolving global financial landscape. ADX's future ambitions will continue to align closely with the UAE's national development agenda, striving to foster a sustainable and diversified economy. The exchange, along with its subsidiaries for post-trade services, endeavors to maintain a transparent, efficient, and resilient marketplace for diverse financial instruments approved by UAE regulations.
For additional inquiries, the ADX Corporate Communication Manager Abdulrahman Saleh ALKhateeb can be contacted directly.