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DIFC-based investment platform baraka has opened access to companies listed on Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), allowing eligible customers to buy UAE-listed stocks directly through its app. Local investments are funded in AED, and the platform's customers span more than 100 nationalities.
The addition brings UAE-listed companies alongside the roughly 10,000 local and global assets already available through a single baraka account, covering US stocks and ETFs, options trading, Shariah-compliant investment choices and precious metals including gold and silver with physical delivery.
baraka Financial Limited is registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
Local Access Was The Most Requested Feature
Access to domestic markets has been one of the most consistent requests from baraka's customer base. By August, the number of customers investing in UAE stocks through the platform had risen more than 25 times from an initial pre-launch pilot.
The UAE names attracting the most interest include Emaar Properties, ADNOC Gas, ADNOC Distribution, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Salik, spanning real estate, energy, banking and infrastructure.
Since local investing became available, 87% of UAE-stock orders placed through baraka have been purchase orders. Among customers who joined in 2026, 42% selected long-term investing as their objective, and around two thirds of the platform's funded customers had never invested before signing up. The median annual amount deposited by an active baraka investor has roughly tripled over the past four years. More than 70% of baraka investors are under 35.
Feras Jalbout, Founder and CEO, baraka
"The opportunity set in the UAE has expanded dramatically, with the businesses shaping the country's growth now accessible through its public markets. For Emiratis and residents, this is an opportunity to own a stake in the economy and build their future through equity investments. Bringing DFM and ADX stocks to baraka means our customers can build portfolios that reflect both global opportunities and the economic champions of the place they call home." - Feras Jalbout, Founder and CEO, baraka
Domestic Market Activity Continues To Build
The launch comes amid rising activity in the UAE's domestic capital markets. DFM closed June 2026 with a market capitalisation of AED 981.6 billion, with total traded value up 40.4% year on year to AED 119.5 billion in the first half and average daily traded value above AED 1 billion. The exchange added 42,864 investors during H1, with international investors making up 71.4% of new registrations.
ADX held a market capitalisation of AED 2.8 trillion at the end of June 2026, with H1 trading value of AED 171 billion across 50.3 billion shares. It added more than 30,000 investors over the period, 77% of them foreign.
Dubai's Financial Sector Strategy includes measures to encourage more family businesses and start-ups to list, while Abu Dhabi's AED 5 billion IPO Fund was set up to support private-sector businesses through the listing process.
Khalifa Rabba, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Financial Market
"Expanding access to DFM-listed securities through regulated digital investment platforms supports our ongoing efforts to broaden market participation and enhance investor accessibility. The integration with baraka enables investors to incorporate local stocks more seamlessly into diversified portfolios alongside other asset classes, supporting easier access to market opportunities and enhanced investor experience." - Khalifa Rabba, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Financial Market
Omar Alserkal, Director, Product and Market Development,
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
"Brokerage and investment platforms, like baraka, are playing an increasingly important role in capital markets and enhancing the investor experience. This new access to ADX-listed securities via the baraka platform bolsters our commitment to making Abu Dhabi's capital market more accessible, connected, and responsive to the evolving needs of investors. This collaboration enables a broader investor base to participate in the growth of leading UAE companies, while reinforcing ADX's role in advancing market depth, innovation, and long-term investment opportunities." - Omar Alserkal, Director, Product and Market Development, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
How The Structure Works
Local stocks are funded in AED and held in the names of baraka customers. Investors buy whole shares rather than fractions, with UAE securities held under the custodianship of UAE bank Emirates NBD. Eligible investors may also receive dividends paid by UAE-listed companies.
Investor Number issuance is handled inside baraka's onboarding flow, so customers do not need to make a separate application outside the platform. Access to ADX and DFM stocks is facilitated by Dubai-based investment bank Arqaam Capital through its Direct Market Access facility.
Islamic Window Approval
In July 2026, baraka Financial Limited received DFSA approval on its Islamic Window application, allowing the firm to offer both conventional and Shariah-compliant assets. The platform's Shariah Screener covers eligible stocks and ETFs across both US and UAE markets, and around 58% of funded customers have used it. Further Shariah-compliant products are planned over the coming months.
Residents and citizens aged 18 and above across the GCC can access the baraka app through the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Founded in 2021, baraka is a UAE-based investment platform providing access to local and global investment opportunities through one account, supported by an investment academy and financial education content.
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