Overview:
UAE stock exchanges finished the abbreviated four-day week in the green on Thursday, supported by gains in financial and technology sectors. Bank of America raised price targets for two major Emirati lenders, while global semiconductor strength lifted sentiment. Separately, Dubai real estate recorded 10.2 billion dirhams in transactions over four days, and foreign trade expanded with Hong Kong and Lebanon partnerships advancing.
Details:
Bank of America's research unit elevated its price target for Emirates NBD to 38.5 dirhams while maintaining a buy rating, citing expected return on equity of 16.6 percent and projected loan portfolio growth of 17 percent in 2026. The bank simultaneously raised its target for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank to 27.20 dirhams, supported by forecasts of 26 percent returns on equity and lower financing costs benefiting 2027 profitability.
Dubai's real estate sector demonstrated robust activity, with 10.2 billion dirhams in transactions completed across 3,295 deals in four trading days. Sales accounted for 6 billion dirhams, mortgages 3.4 billion, and gifts 720 million. A single commercial land parcel in Jumeirah Lake Towers was mortgaged for 297 million dirhams.
On the trade front, UAE-Lebanon relations expanded with new memorandums of understanding targeting logistics linkage and investment growth. The two nations recorded 4.2 billion dirhams in non-oil bilateral trade during 2025. Additionally, UAE-Hong Kong trade exceeded 17.4 billion dollars in 2025, positioning the Emirates as Hong Kong's sixth-largest export market. A UAE-backed partnership with MTN is launching African data centers to support artificial intelligence infrastructure across the continent.
Outlook:
Investors are monitoring whether international upgrades to regional bank valuations will sustain market momentum as earnings seasons progress. Global technology performance remains closely watched, particularly semiconductor suppliers' ability to meet artificial intelligence infrastructure demand.