Dubai, September 18, 2026: Dubai’s stock market ended the week lower on Friday, with the Dubai Financial Market General Index (DFMGI) falling 0.5% to 5,957 points. The decline ended a two-session winning streak and came as some of Dubai’s biggest listed companies recorded losses.
The Dubai market’s performance contrasted with Abu Dhabi, where the benchmark index rose 1.1% on the same day. Abu Dhabi’s gains were helped by strong performances from companies including International Holding Company (IHC), PureHealth and Lulu Retail.
Emirates NBD and Emaar weigh on Dubai market
One of the main factors behind Friday’s decline was weakness in major Dubai-listed companies.
Emirates NBD, the UAE’s largest banking group by assets, fell 2.4%. Because large companies have a significant influence on the market index, movements in major stocks can have a noticeable effect on the overall DFM performance.
Emaar Properties, one of Dubai’s best-known property developers, also declined, falling 1.5% to AED 11.62. The company is closely watched by investors because Dubai’s real-estate sector is an important part of the emirate’s economy.
However, not every major Dubai company fell. Emaar Development gained 1.9%, showing that the session was mixed rather than a broad decline across every listed company.
Talabat shares move higher
One of the notable gainers in Dubai was Talabat Holding.
The food-delivery company’s shares rose 2.6% after the company recommended a first-half dividend of 2.660 fils per share. Dividend announcements can attract investor attention because they provide shareholders with a direct distribution from company earnings.
This movement also demonstrates that the fall in the overall Dubai index did not mean that all companies were performing poorly. According to market data, 24 of the 54 companies traded on Friday increased, while 22 declined and eight remained unchanged.
Trading activity remains significant
Trading activity on the Dubai exchange remained substantial. The total value of trading reported for the session was around AED 1.94 billion, according to Argaam. Despite Friday’s fall, the Dubai market finished the week approximately 0.3% higher than the previous week’s closing level.
That means Friday’s decline should be viewed in the context of the entire week’s performance. A single day’s fall does not necessarily indicate a longer-term change in the market’s direction.
Oil prices also declined
Another factor being watched by Gulf investors was the movement in crude oil prices.
Brent crude fell 1.6% to around $103.18 per barrel by 11:49 GMT on Friday. Oil prices are particularly important for Gulf financial markets because energy revenues have a major influence on regional economies and government finances. Reuters reported that concerns about possible supply disruptions in Saudi Arabia had eased, contributing to the decline in oil prices.
What does this mean for Dubai?
Friday’s numbers show a mixed picture rather than a market-wide collapse. Dubai’s benchmark index declined 0.5%, mainly as major stocks such as Emirates NBD and Emaar Properties weakened. At the same time, companies such as Talabat and Emaar Development gained.
For Dubai residents, the movement is primarily relevant to investors and businesses connected to the financial and real-estate sectors. The performance of the DFM can also provide a snapshot of investor sentiment toward Dubai’s economy, although a single trading session cannot by itself establish a long-term economic trend.
Overall, Dubai’s stock market closed lower on September 18, but the weekly performance remained slightly positive, with the DFM gaining about 0.3% over the week.