The Dubai Financial Market has secured formal recognition from Switzerland's financial regulator, marking a significant step in the exchange's push to position Dubai as a globally connected capital markets hub.
Switzerland's Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has granted DFM status as a recognised foreign trading venue, establishing a direct, regulated link between the two financial centres. The recognition carries two practical implications: it allows Swiss institutions supervised by FINMA to access DFM's trading platform directly, and it opens the door for shares of Swiss-incorporated companies to be listed and traded in Dubai.
The move is underpinned by existing cooperation between the UAE's Capital Market Authority (CMA) and FINMA, both of which are signatories to the IOSCO Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding on regulatory consultation and information exchange.
DFM currently serves more than 1.2 million investors from 212 nationalities, with foreign investors accounting for roughly 85 percent of its registered investor base. The Swiss recognition is expected to deepen that international footprint by creating a compliant entry point for Swiss financial institutions.
Hamed Ali, CEO of DFM and Nasdaq Dubai, described the development as a milestone in the exchange's strategy to broaden international access, adding that it creates new opportunities around Swiss-incorporated securities and reinforces Dubai's standing as a global capital markets gateway.
Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, CEO of the UAE CMA, said the recognition reflects the strength of the UAE's regulatory framework and the close supervisory cooperation between the two authorities, noting that it establishes a well-regulated channel for cross-border participation that upholds market integrity.
The recognition aligns with Dubai's broader ambition to grow its financial sector and attract sustained cross-border capital flows.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
