DFM Chief Says Dubai's IPO Pipeline Is Looking Good Despite Only One Listing This Year

"The pipeline is looking good across a number of different sectors," Hamed Ali, chief executive of the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Nasdaq Dubai, said at the Dubai Fintech Summit, according to Khaleej Times. He said the exchange was working to bring more issuers to market, and that it looks at growth both through IPOs and through how companies perform after listing.

Ali did not name prospective issuers or give a timetable, according to the report.

A Slow Year For Listings

His comments came as DIP Holding, which oversees the Dubai Investments Park mixed-use development, completes the UAE's first IPO of 2026. Dubai Investments, its sole shareholder, is selling 20% of the company at Dh1.10 to Dh1.15 a share. That would raise between Dh1.9 billion and Dh2 billion and value DIP Holding at Dh9.5 billion to Dh10 billion, Gulf News reported. All proceeds go to Dubai Investments.

Subscriptions were scheduled to close on November 3, with the final price due on November 4. Trading on the DFM is expected to begin around November 11, subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, according to Gulf News.

By comparison, three companies listed on the DFM in 2024, raising Dh10.48 billion between them, Khaleej Times reported.

Why It Matters

The Dubai Fintech Summit is the flagship event of Dubai Future Finance Week, organised by the Dubai International Financial Centre. This year's agenda has been dominated by AI in finance, digital assets and payments. Ali's remarks suggest the exchange expects more companies to list after a thin 2026. Demand for the DIP Holding offering and its trading after listing will be an early test of that pipeline.