Image credit: WAM/Website
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) demonstrated strong growth across key metrics in the first half of 2025, showcasing a positive outlook for the year and reflecting increasing investor confidence.
As per the latest ADX report, there was a remarkable 99.5% rise in foreign net investments year-over-year, reaching Dhs13.6 billion for H1 2025, compared to Dhs6.84 billion during the same timeframe in 2024.
The overall trading value also saw a significant uptick of 33.5%, increasing from Dhs134.4 billion to approximately Dhs179.5 billion, according to a report.
In addition, the average daily trading value rose by 31.4%, from Dhs1.1 billion to nearly Dhs1.45 billion, indicating an increase in trading activity and market liquidity.
First Digital Bond Introduced by ADX, HSBC, and FAB
On July 3, 2025, ADX announced the initiation of the pricing phase for the first blockchain-based digital bond in MENA, an innovative step for the region’s financial landscape. This bond, backed by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and executed through HSBC Orion—a prominent digital asset issuance platform—marks a significant achievement in digital finance.
This bond’s launch is a strategic partnership involving ADX, FAB, and HSBC, fusing local expertise with international knowledge in digital asset issuance. HSBC Orion, administered by the Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU) in Hong Kong, acts as the foundational digital framework for the bond. The transaction also benefited from the guidance of global legal firms, ensuring adherence to high governance standards.
Advancing Tokenised Finance in the Region
ADX highlighted that the introduction of this digital bond is a pivotal element of its strategy to broaden its range of innovative financial offerings and cement its status as a leader in tokenised finance.
Digital bonds are fixed-income instruments that are documented and issued on blockchain technology, providing numerous operational advantages, including quicker settlement periods, increased transparency, enhanced security, and decreased counterparty risks for institutional investors.
This bond is accessible to international investors through accounts with CMU, Euroclear, and Clearstream, and can also be accessed via onboarding to HSBC Orion or through current custodians associated with any participating organization.
Industry Experts Emphasize Importance of Innovation
HSBC played a vital role as the sole global coordinator, lead manager, and bookrunner for this transaction. The bank’s leadership in comprehensive blockchain-based issuance was crucial in introducing this technology to the MENA region.
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, CEO of ADX, stated, “The successful launch of MENA’s first blockchain-based digital bond, in close partnership with FAB and HSBC, signifies a transformative moment in our endeavor to innovate capital markets.”
Lars Kramer, CFO of FAB, remarked, “In collaboration with ADX and HSBC, we are setting new standards for efficiency, transparency, and security while adhering to the UAE’s forward-thinking regulatory framework.”
Mohamed Al Marzooqi, CEO of UAE, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, noted, “The introduction of MENA’s first digital bond on ADX utilizing HSBC Orion exemplifies how we are turning the potential of tokenisation into reality in our region.”
Designed to integrate effectively with global post-trade systems, the digital bond helps to create a link between conventional financial infrastructures and emerging blockchain-based solutions, promoting broader institutional engagement.