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Middle East & Africa Block Trades SCA AED

United Arab Emirates Block Trade on ADX & DFM

Block-trade financing and discreet execution for large lines of shares listed in the United Arab Emirates — for sellers and acquirers who need to move size without disturbing the order book or the price.

01 · Process
How it works

From enquiry to print.

—StageWhat happensTiming
01Confidential enquiryThe line, the holding and the objective, shared through a secure channel.Day one
02Pricing the blockThe line is sized and a price set against it; any discount reflects size and liquidity.1–2 days
03Execution & printWorked off the order book or negotiated, then printed under the exchange’s block-trade rules.On the day
04Settlement & disclosureSettles on the standard cycle; any substantial-holding disclosure is sequenced around the print.T+1 / T+2
02 · The Market
Middle East & Africa

United Arab Emirates equity markets.

A United Arab Emirates block trade moves a large line of ADX- or DFM-listed stock in a single negotiated transaction — away from the continuous order book, at an agreed price — so a holder can exit, or an acquirer build a position, without walking the screen. Black Haven can take the line onto its own book, giving the seller a clean, priced exit while the disclosure that follows a substantial transfer is managed around the print.

Sizing a UAE block starts with the register and the disclosure regime. A transfer that takes a party across 5%, or through the higher control thresholds, is reportable to the Securities and Commodities Authority and the market, and price sensitivity is judged against the name’s daily turnover — a line that would take many sessions to clear on-screen is the natural candidate for a negotiated print. Foreign-ownership caps constrain who can stand on the other side, so the counterparty and any warehousing are structured around the issuer’s limits. Both venues settle T+2 through their central depositories.

United Arab Emirates block trades at a glance:

Listed venuesAbu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), Dubai Financial Market (DFM)
RegulatorSecurities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
CurrencyAED
SettlementT+2
Disclosure threshold5%
Principal indicesFTSE ADX 15, ADX General Index
StructureOff-market or negotiated-price

Regulatory references are published for general orientation and are not legal advice.

03 · Exchanges
Two Venues

Each United Arab Emirates exchange, covered.

ADX · Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange

The principal Abu Dhabi equity venue, increasingly weighted by major sovereign-affiliated listings (ADNOC subsidiaries) and a deepening listings pipeline. Foreign ownership rules have liberalised materially since 2020.

View ADX → DFM · Dubai

Dubai Financial Market

Dubai’s principal exchange, distinct from Nasdaq Dubai (which lists in USD under DFSA jurisdiction). DFM listings are predominantly Sharia-compliant; foreign ownership caps remain a per-issuer consideration for collateralisation.

View DFM →
04 · FAQ
United Arab Emirates · Block Trades

What holders ask about the United Arab Emirates.

01Does a UAE block trade have to be disclosed?
If it moves a party through a notifiable level, yes. Crossing 5%, or the higher control thresholds, triggers disclosure to the Securities and Commodities Authority and the market, and price-sensitive dealings are reported promptly. Because Black Haven can take the line onto its own book, the seller gets a priced exit while the reporting is sequenced around the print rather than telegraphed ahead of it.
02How large a line can be placed off-market in the UAE?
Size is judged against the specific name’s daily turnover and free float, not a fixed cap. Index constituents and the large sovereign-affiliated listings absorb far bigger tickets than thin small-caps. We look at the line, the register, any foreign-ownership limit and any lock-up, then quote a price to take it as principal or place it into identified demand.
03How do you execute a United Arab Emirates block trade?
We work the line off the order book, off-market or at a negotiated price, and the block is then printed to Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Dubai Financial Market (DFM) under its block-trade rules. Black Haven Investments can take all or part of the risk on the line, so the seller achieves a clean exit at an agreed price.
04How large a block can you handle in the United Arab Emirates?
It depends on the stock’s free float, daily traded volume and volatility. We assess each line on its merits and indicate a workable size and price range after reviewing the position.
05Does the block trade have to be disclosed?
Often, yes. A substantial transfer by a significant shareholder is generally disclosable under the relevant regime overseen by SCA. We manage the sequencing and wording of any required notification around the trade.
06Can you finance the buyer of the block?
Yes. A block can be paired with a stock loan to the acquirer, so the newly acquired United Arab Emirates-listed line serves immediately as collateral for the financing that funds it.
07What is the settlement cycle for a United Arab Emirates block trade?
The negotiated block is printed to Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Dubai Financial Market (DFM) under its block-trade rules and then settles on the standard T+2 cycle. We coordinate the print, the settlement and any financing legs so the line moves cleanly.
08At what level must a block be disclosed in the United Arab Emirates?
The principal threshold is 5%, under SCA disclosure rules overseen by SCA. A crossing by a substantial holder is notifiable; we sequence the print and the notice.
09Can you execute a block for a foreign or offshore seller?
Yes. The line is held with a qualified custodian and the block printed to Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Dubai Financial Market (DFM); we manage cross-border custody, settlement and the disclosure that attaches to a substantial transfer.
10How quickly can a United Arab Emirates block be executed?
It depends on the stock’s liquidity and the size of the line relative to daily volume. Once mandated, many blocks are worked and printed within days; thinner lines are paced to limit market impact.
05 · Adjacent Markets
Middle East & Africa

Countries adjacent to the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia · Israel · South Africa · Qatar · Kuwait · Egypt · Nigeria

All countries →

Guides

Related guides.

Block Trades

What Is a Block Trade, and How Does One Work?

A block trade is the off-market sale of a large line of listed shares at a negotiated price, executed bilaterally and printed under exchange rules to avoid moving the open market.

Read → Block Trades

How Do You Sell a Large Block of Shares Without Moving the Price?

A large block is sold without moving the price by taking it off the open order book — negotiating off-market at an agreed price, often with a liquidity provider taking the risk, and printing under exchange block rules.

Read → Disclosure

Do Block Trades Have to Be Disclosed?

Often yes. Once a significant shareholder crosses a market’s substantial-holding threshold, a block sale is generally notifiable to the regulator within a set window, with thresholds varying by jurisdiction.

Read →

A particular United Arab Emirates holding to talk through?

Send a confidential enquiry, and a senior principal will reply within one business day.

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