Iran war wipes $120bn off Dubai, Abu Dhabi stock markets

Al Jazeera Economic ImpactNews ReportEN 2 min read 100% complete by John PowerMarch 31, 2026 at 09:57 AM

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Iran attacks Kuwait, Israel after Trump sets deadline for deal

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28th, the stock markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates have experienced significant losses, totaling around $120 billion. The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) General Index has lost about $45bn in market capitalisation, while the larger ADX General Index has shed about $75bn. This decline is attributed to the conflict's impact on the UAE's status as a regional travel hub, with numerous flight cancellations affecting tourism, a key contributor to the UAE's GDP. While other Gulf exchanges saw mixed results, the UAE's losses are among the most substantial, though some analysts view this as a temporary shock rather than long-term economic damage.

Article Analysis

Framing Angle

Economic Impact

Primary framing

Conflict

Secondary framing

Mixed Tone

Sensationalism

Factual

Fact vs Opinion

OpinionFactual

Sources Cited

Limited sources

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Key Claims (5)

AI-Extracted

The slide would be an unwelcome development for the UAE authorities seeking to boost the country’s status as a financial hub.

quote — Haytham Aoun, an assistant professor of finance at the American University in Dubai100% confidence

Tourism and travel contributed about $70bn to the UAE economy last year, accounting for 13 percent of GDP.

statistic100% confidence

The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) General Index has lost about $45bn in market capitalisation.

factual100% confidence

Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s benchmark indexes have plunged about 16 percent and 9 percent, respectively.

factual100% confidence

UAE stock markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have lost around $120bn in value since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.

factual100% confidence

Claims are automatically extracted and should be independently verified. Attribution indicates the stated source of the claim.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Oman 40% Saudi Arabia 40% Bahrain 40% Qatar 40% ADX General Index 50% Dubai Financial Market 60% Abu Dhabi ×370% Dubai ×470% Israel ×270% United States ×270% United Arab Emirates ×580% Iran ×590%

Keywords

us-israel war on iran 100% stock markets 90% financial markets 80% dubai 70% abu dhabi 70% market capitalisation 60% uae economy 60% tourism 50% economic shock 40% strait of hormuz 40%