Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Group has officially welcomed HSBC as a new General Clearing Member (GCM), marking a significant step in enhancing the efficiency and resilience of the ADX's post-trade ecosystem. HSBC, one of the largest banking and financial services organizations globally, becomes the first international bank to take on this role, thereby expanding investors' access to ADX-listed securities and the emirate's capital markets.
According to Emirates News Agency, HSBC's role as a GCM will support post-trade clearing and settlement through ADX's infrastructure, aiming to reduce settlement risk and enhance liquidity across the exchange. This initiative highlights the sustained confidence in the UAE's financial market robustness. With the necessary regulatory approvals, market participants can now leverage HSBC's clearing services via AD Clear for their needs.
The introduction of HSBC as a GCM is expected to diminish counterparty risk, bolster settlement discipline, and create a scalable operating model aligned with growing market participation. HSBC's engagement demonstrates its global connectivity and strengthens ADX's reputation as a key investment gateway to a stable and resilient economy.
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group CEO of the ADX Group, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership, stating that it represents a significant expansion of ADX's post-trade infrastructure. He noted that HSBC's involvement would broaden market access, support trading activity, and enhance market processing efficiency.
Mohamed Al Marzooqi, CEO, UAE, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, highlighted the milestone as reinforcing the UAE's status as a leading financial hub and enhancing connectivity between regional opportunities and global capital flows. He reiterated HSBC's commitment to broadening access for international investors and supporting the development of ADX's post-trade infrastructure.
HSBC has been a pioneer in delivering Direct Custody and Clearing (DCC) services in the UAE for 25 years, setting benchmarks for reliability and client satisfaction. The bank's transition to a GCM reinforces its leadership in the UAE's financial sector.
The ADX's expanding international reach is reflected in increased global investor confidence, evidenced by a 4% rise in institutional trading in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Foreign investors accounted for 47.5% of the overall trading value on the ADX during this period, underscoring its appeal as a destination for international capital.
Supporting this expansion, AD Clear offers comprehensive clearing and risk mitigation solutions, with operations clearing approximately 400 billion dirhams in 2025, underscoring its role in maintaining market integrity.
