The Dubai Financial Market (DFM), the emirate’s main stock exchange, attracted net foreign investment inflows of AED4bn ($1.09bn) last year, more than doubling the AED1.7bn-worth of investment recorded in 2013.

The exchange also brought in 27,000 new investors ensuring that the current investor base now exceeds 833,000.

The increase in foreign investment followed the upgrade of the UAE to emerging market status from frontier status in June 2014 by index compiler MSCI. This move opened up the DFM to wider range of foreign investors.

The exchange also saw the market for initial public offerings revive in 2014, with the listing of four new companies; start-up retailer Marka, Emaar Malls, healthcare start-up Amanat Holding, and Dubai Parks and Resorts.

Daily average trading value also increased last year, rising by 136.7 per cent to AED1.5bn compared to AED642m last year.

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