The United Arab Emirates has ordered the closure of its stock markets on Monday, 2 March, and Tuesday, 3 March, as the nation contends with the economic fallout from Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes.
The move underscores growing economic disruption across the Gulf region. The UAE Capital Markets Authority (CMA) announced that both the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) would remain closed, citing its supervisory and regulatory responsibilities over the country’s capital markets.
“The Authority will continue to monitor developments in the region and assess the situation on an ongoing basis, taking any further measures as necessary,” the CMA said in an official statement.
The closure temporarily suspends trading in billions of dollars of listed assets as investors await clarity on the scale of damage from the strikes, which targeted airports, ports, and residential areas across the UAE and the broader Gulf region.
The two exchanges are home to some of the region’s most valuable listed companies, making the suspension particularly impactful on both domestic and international investors.
Markets across the Gulf that remained open on Sunday experienced sharp declines. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) fell more than 4 percent at the open before paring losses to close 2.2 percent lower.
Oman’s main index declined 3 percent, while Egypt’s primary index shed 5.44 percent. Kuwait, which had suspended trading, announced that its markets would resume operations on Monday.
All market participants have been advised to follow official CMA, ADX, and DFM channels for updates regarding the resumption of trading.
The closures reflect heightened caution amid regional instability, emphasizing the UAE authorities’ focus on maintaining orderly market operations during periods of geopolitical uncertainty.
The UAE’s preemptive suspension of trading highlights the interconnectedness of Gulf markets and the potential for regional tensions to have immediate and tangible effects on investor confidence and market stability.
