Middle East & Africa Two Exchanges SCA Regulated AED

Stock Loans Against United Arab Emirates-Listed Equity

Institutional securities-backed lending against shares listed on United Arab Emirates’s principal equity exchanges — for controlling shareholders, founders, and family offices holding positions on the SCA-regulated market.

01 · The Country

Middle East & Africa

United Arab Emirates equity markets.

The firm structures stock loans against shares listed on United Arab Emirates’s two principal cash equity venues. The instrument allows founders, family offices, controlling shareholders, and concentrated single-stock holders to release liquidity against their United Arab Emirates-listed position — without selling, and without disturbing voting control or the share register. Beneficial ownership remains with the borrower throughout. The full position is recovered on repayment.

Indicative terms are calibrated to the specific position. Loan-to-value is set against the underlying’s single-stock liquidity and free float. Tenor typically runs twelve to thirty-six months for institutional transactions. Recourse profiles span non-recourse, limited-recourse, and full-recourse — chosen against the borrower’s downside-protection objectives. Loans can be denominated in AED or in cross-currency structures (USD, EUR, GBP, or another major currency) depending on the borrower’s redeployment requirements.

United Arab Emirates stock loans at a glance:

Listed venues	Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), Dubai Financial Market (DFM)
Regulator	Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
Currency	AED, with cross-currency options
Principal indices	FTSE ADX 15, ADX General Index
Tenor	12–36 months (institutional)
Recourse profile	Non-recourse, limited-recourse, or full-recourse
Loan-to-value	Calibrated per position

Regulatory references for any specific transaction are mapped at the structuring stage with the borrower’s chosen counsel. The information above is published for general orientation and is not legal advice.

02 · Exchanges

Two Venues

Each United Arab Emirates exchange, covered.

ADX · Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange

The principal Abu Dhabi equity venue, increasingly weighted by major sovereign-affiliated listings (ADNOC subsidiaries) and a deepening listings pipeline. Foreign ownership rules have liberalised materially since 2020.

View ADX stock loans → DFM · Dubai

Dubai Financial Market

Dubai’s principal exchange, distinct from Nasdaq Dubai (which lists in USD under DFSA jurisdiction). DFM listings are predominantly Sharia-compliant; foreign ownership caps remain a per-issuer consideration for collateralisation.

View DFM stock loans →

03 · FAQ

United Arab Emirates Stock Loans

What people most often ask about United Arab Emirates.

Q · 01 Which United Arab Emirates exchanges does the firm cover for stock loans?

The firm covers Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Dubai Financial Market (DFM). Stock loans (securities-backed lending) are structured against shares listed on either, with the choice of execution venue depending on the issuer’s primary listing, the position’s liquidity profile, and the shareholder’s regulatory standing. Eligibility is assessed case by case.

Q · 02 What is the typical loan-to-value for a stock loan against United Arab Emirates-listed equity?

LTV is calibrated to the specific position. The principal variables are the underlying’s free float, average daily trading volume, implied and realised volatility, sector concentration, and the borrower’s regulatory profile. A position in a large-cap with deep free float supports a higher LTV than a thinly-traded mid-cap; a non-recourse structure runs at lower LTV than a full-recourse structure on the same underlying. There is no published rate sheet; indicative ratios are issued only after a review of the specific position.

Q · 03 Which currency can a United Arab Emirates stock loan be denominated in?

The default is AED, the listing currency. Cross-currency structures — for example, financing an AED-denominated position with a USD or EUR loan — are common and routinely available. The cross-currency element introduces hedging, settlement, and tax considerations that are addressed expressly in the documentation.

Q · 04 Who regulates stock-loan transactions in United Arab Emirates?

Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) is the principal regulator across United Arab Emirates cash equity markets. The firm operates as an introducer and arranger; activities requiring a regulatory licence are conducted through, or in collaboration with, entities holding the appropriate licence or registration in United Arab Emirates.

04 · Other Middle East & Africa

Adjacent Markets

Countries adjacent to United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia · Israel · South Africa · Qatar

All countries →

A specific United Arab Emirates position to discuss?

Submit a confidential enquiry. A senior principal will respond within one business day.

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