Capital Markets

In 2012 the GDP of Abu Dhabi expanded by 5.6% y-o-y, and the government has forecast annual expansion of 5.7% in the 2013-16 period. With a sustained return to positive territory for its main index and a crucial upgrade to “emerging market” status by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), Abu Dhabi’s exchange has had a good year. Both developments have generated new optimism regarding the exchange’s ability to attract liquidity, a goal which local and federal authorities have made a strategic priority. Efforts are under way to improve investor relations, with the Securities and Commodities Authority teaming up with both of the UAE’s exchanges, HSBC and the Middle East Investor Relations Society to introduce systemic improvements. This chapter contains an interview with Rashed Al Baloushi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.