Dubai, United Arab Emirates – UAE stock markets closed the week ending August 1, 2025, with a slight decline, despite recording strong overall gains for the month of July. Investors responded to mixed corporate earnings and global economic signals while selectively repositioning their portfolios.
Weekly Performance in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Dubai’s main index slipped 0.6% during the week to close at 6,111.97 points, losing about 47 points in the final session. Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi index declined by 0.2% amid a wave of profit-taking.
Nevertheless, both markets posted impressive monthly performances. Dubai’s index rose nearly 8% in July—its best in the GCC region—while Abu Dhabi gained around 4.2%, supported by robust earnings and foreign investor inflows.
Top Gainers and Losers
Best-performing stocks:
- National Bank of Fujairah (NBF): surged 9.6% after reporting a 67% jump in Q2 profits.
- Multiply Group: gained 5.1% following strong results and the announcement of increased foreign ownership limits.
- Gulf Navigation: climbed 5.8% after approval to raise foreign ownership to 100%.
Underperforming stocks:
- Commercial Bank International (CBI): dropped 7.8% following a 5% decline in quarterly profits.
- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB): fell 3.4%.
- Emirates NBD: declined by 2.4%.
Market Drivers
Multiple factors influenced the market last week:
- U.S. economic signals: Weaker-than-expected job growth increased the likelihood of a Fed rate cut in September.
- New U.S. tariffs: Trade tensions spiked after Washington imposed duties on imports from several countries.
- Mixed earnings in UAE: Some companies like NBF and Multiply posted strong results, while others showed weaker performance.
- Oil prices: Crude slipped 0.9% to near $71 per barrel, adding mild pressure on sentiment.
Outlook for the Week Ahead (Starting August 3)
As markets open for the new week, volatility may persist amid anticipation of U.S. inflation and economic data. With expectations of a steady interest rate in August and potential Fed cuts by September, investor sentiment may remain cautiously optimistic.
Locally, attention will turn to the remaining Q2 earnings from key companies such as e& (formerly Etisalat) and ADNOC Drilling. Stocks that recently raised foreign ownership limits—like Multiply and Gulf Navigation—could continue to attract investor interest.
Conclusion
Despite a slight pullback at the end of July, UAE markets demonstrated strong monthly performance backed by solid fundamentals, resilient corporate earnings, and foreign capital flows. As August begins, investors are advised to remain alert to global developments while exploring opportunities in high-performing and reform-driven local stocks.
