Investors looking to get into Dubai's stock market can now skip the paperwork and long lines. EFG Hermes UAE has launched a digital sign-up service through its EFG Hermes ONE app. Users can get a Dubai Financial Market (DFM) investor number and open a trading account right from their phones. This move fits with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which pushes for digital services and easier access to finance for both locals and international investors.
DFM has seen a sharp rise in new investors and trading. In the first half of 2026, 42,864 new investors joined-71.4% of them were foreign nationals. Trading value hit AED 119.5 billion, up 40.4% from the year before. The average daily trading value jumped 45.1% to AED 1.004 billion. Foreign investors made up 51% of all trading, and institutional investors accounted for 71.2%. By June 2026, DFM's market cap reached AED 981.6 billion. These numbers, reported by Emirates News Agency (WAM), show Dubai's growing pull for global investors.
How digital registration works
With the EFG Hermes ONE app, investors can now finish the whole onboarding process from anywhere. The app lets users get a National Investor Number (NIN) and activate their trading account without handing in physical documents or visiting a branch. This cuts out the old hurdles that slowed people down. The Google Play app description notes that DFM's own app offers similar digital onboarding, showing a wider shift to mobile-first investing in Dubai.
Khalifa Rabba, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Financial Market, called the launch a key step in DFM's digital push. He said letting investors register and start trading online "expands market participation and reinforces Dubai's position as a leading financial centre." Afra Al Suwaidi, CEO of Dubai CSD, said, "With 42,864 new investors joining in just six months, making the first step seamless is the real starting point for access."
Market impact and competition
EFG Hermes UAE's digital sign-up is more than a tech update. It's a direct answer to the race for new investors in Dubai's capital markets. In the first half of 2026, EFG Hermes held a 48.52% market share on DFM and led Nasdaq Dubai with 65.69%. Executive Director of Retail Sales, Alaa Mostafa, credited this to steady investment in technology, strong execution, and close client ties across the UAE. The platform's reach across markets matches the UAE's goal to draw global capital, as set out by the Central Bank of the UAE and backed by rules from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
For investors, the benefit is clear: instant access to DFM-listed stocks, no paperwork, no in-person meetings. This fits a bigger trend in Dubai's financial sector, where digital services are taking off. Other recent moves include flydubai Holidays' digital platform for travel bookings. The region has also rolled out digital channels for buying government-backed T-Sukuk, available through eIPO, iVestor, and DFM apps, as covered by Arabian Business.
What this means for Dubai's financial scene
By making it easier and faster to join, EFG Hermes UAE and DFM are bringing in more investors, especially from abroad and from institutions. The digital sign-up is more than just a convenience. It's a move to catch the momentum in Dubai's capital markets and keep the city at the front of digital finance. The numbers show demand for Dubai-listed stocks is rising, and now the tools are in place to meet it quickly. ADGM reminds investors to always check the credentials of financial service providers through official regulatory lists, keeping investor protection strong as the UAE's market keeps changing.
