779 Companies Listed on Gulf Stock Exchanges
The Statistical Center for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries stated that Gulf stock markets saw the trading of approximately 401.7 billion shares in 2025, with a total value of around $618 billion, representing a 19.5% increase compared to 2024.
In a report issued on the performance of GCC stock exchanges during 2025, the Center clarified that the total market capitalization of Gulf financial markets reached approximately $3.9 trillion, recording a decline of 6.2% compared to the previous year. It noted that the composite general index for the performance of Gulf financial markets ended 2025 at around 165.2 points, a decrease of 3.8% compared to the end of 2024.
Regarding listed companies, the Center mentioned that the total number of companies listed on Gulf financial markets reached 779, while the number of companies whose shares are permitted for trading by GCC nationals in Gulf markets amounted to 756, equivalent to 97% of the total listed companies. The rate reached 100% in the stock exchanges of Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, and Qatar.
On the regulatory and legislative front, the Center pointed out that Gulf financial markets witnessed extensive developments in 2025, including the regulation of financial markets and investment funds, the development of listing and admission rules, the enhancement of corporate governance, the regulation of trading behaviors, the development of market-making mechanisms, and the expansion of digital platforms and financial technologies.
The markets also saw an enhancement of risk-based supervision and oversight, the development of financial market infrastructure, the updating of capital adequacy frameworks, alongside the expansion of sustainability-related disclosures and the development of systems for the electronic issuance of securities.
In the context of strengthening Gulf integration, the Center noted the entry into force of the mutual registration regulation for investment funds, considered the first unified regulatory framework for a financial product at the GCC level. This was accompanied by continued efforts on initiatives supporting the listing and trading of bonds and sukuk, the enhancement of dual listing and electronic linking between stock exchanges, and the unification of investor identification numbers for GCC nationals.
