DUBAI: Middle East markets followed global shares higher on Monday and Saudi Arabia’s stock index was bolstered by strong quarterly reports and dividend announcements.
For now, unease about an end to the era of ultra-cheap money has given way to optimism about global growth, with Friday’s stronger-than-expected US non-farm payrolls report bolstering risk appetite. Data on Monday showed exports from Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, rose more than expected in May.
In Saudi Arabia, shares of United Electronics Company (Extra) surged by their 10 percent daily limit to SR36.90 ($9.84), their highest close since January 2016. The company had earlier reported second-quarter net income of SR43.4 million ($11.57 million), up 287.5 percent from the prior year period.
In a separate statement, the board approved a cash dividend of SR0.75 per share for first half of 2017, the company’s first dividend distribution since 2015.
The positive mood spilled into other consumer-related shares, with Extra’s chief competitor Jarir gaining 2 percent.
Analysts have been expecting improvement in the retail sector in the second quarter from a year before because of the government’s decision to reinstate civil servants’ allowances and because of the month of Ramadan, which typically sees a rise in sales.
The Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) added 1 percent as all 12 of the listed banks rose. Banque Saudi Fransi surged 8.7 percent in heavy trade after the board recommended a cash dividend of SR1.05 per share for the first half of this year, almost double the cash distributed in the prior year period.
Egypt’s blue-chip index added 1.1 percent, recovering from a small drop on Sunday. Shares of media conglomerate Orascom Telecom gained 3 percent after it reported first-quarter net income of 388.5 million Egyptian pounds ($21.74 million) versus 48.73 million pounds in the same period a year ago.
Shares of the largest listed lender Commercial International Bank rose 1.8 percent.
Qatar’s index climbed 1 percent, with four-fifths of the total market turnover coming from local investors, bourse data showed.
Twenty-six of the traded companies rose, including heavyweight Qatar National Bank, which added 1.9 percent, while 11 shares declined.
In Abu Dhabi, natural gas explorer Dana Gas fell 1.4 percent on profit-taking. Shares of the commodity company have been volatile since late June when Dana declared it would not make payments on $700 million of Islamic bonds maturing in October because Islamic finance standards had changed since the instruments were issued four years ago.
The index edged down 0.3 percent in relatively thin trade.
Dubai’s index rose 0.5 percent as shares of developer Union Properties climbed 1.7 percent. Twelve other shares rose while 11 declined.
Strong 2Q boosts Saudi stocks
Strong 2Q boosts Saudi stocks
Dubai’s luxury residential market sees record $9bn sales in 2025: Knight Frank
RIYADH: Dubai’s luxury residential market hit a record in 2025, with sales of homes priced above $10 million rising 27.7 percent from a year earlier to $9.05 billion, according to Knight Frank.
A total of 500 homes worth more than $10 million changed hands during the year, up from just 30 such deals recorded in 2020. Within that segment, 68 properties were sold for more than $25 million, marking a 45 percent year-on-year increase, the property consultancy said.
The findings underscore Dubai’s growing status as a global hub for high-net-worth individuals, who are increasingly viewing the emirate not just as a part-time business base but as a full-time home.
In November, a separate analysis by Savills found that Dubai topped the rankings as the leading destination for HNWIs globally, surpassing New York and Singapore.
Commenting on the latest report, Faisal Durrani, partner and head of research for the Middle East and North Africa at Knight Frank, said: “Dubai’s meteoric rise as the world’s busiest market for $10 million+ homes, having increased from just 30 sales in 2020 to 500 by the end of 2025, is best reflected in the emirate’s growing reputation as a magnet for the global elite.”
The final quarter of 2025 recorded 143 sales transactions for properties valued at more than $10 million, representing a 39 percent increase compared to the previous quarter.
The report added that demand for luxury residential properties remains highly concentrated in destination communities that combine waterfront living, security and amenities into self-contained ecosystems.
Palm Jumeirah led fourth-quarter sales in the $10 million-plus segment with 28 transactions, followed by Palm Jebel Ali with 22. La Mer, Jumeirah 2 and Tilal Al Ghaf also ranked among the most active neighborhoods at the top end of the market.
“Dubai’s residential market has differentiated itself from regional cities and many other global gateway locations through the creation of destination communities that integrate leisure, safety and convenience into self-contained ecosystems,” said Will Mckintosh, regional partner, Knight Frank’s head of Residential at MENA.
Mckintosh added: “At 50 percent larger than its established neighbor Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali remains a destination to watch. While it will obviously take time to reach the maturity of other established communities, the 2025 sales figures are a welcome indication of its high potential and the growing demand from the wealthiest buyers for prime waterfront property and the luxury Dubai lifestyle.”
The most expensive individual purchase in the fourth quarter was in the Business Bay community, where a six-bedroom apartment in Bugatti Residences by Binghatti sold for $149.7 million.
Knight Frank said Dubai’s real estate market is moving beyond its “emerging” phase to become an “emerged” market, marked by greater stability.
“Historical patterns of sharp market cycles, largely fueled by speculative investment, have receded and, while natural market cycles will persist, we believe the volatility associated with previous speculative booms is less likely in this new era of established residency,” said Durrani.
He added: “As the market extends past its five-year property price rally, the rate of price rises across the mainstream market is starting to slow, albeit they continue to rise. After growing by 194 percent since the fourth quarter of 2020, we believe prime values will expand by a further 3 percent during 2026.”
