Abu Dhabi, February 22, 2026, 11:48 (GST) — Trading has ended; the market is closed.
- Abu Dhabi’s main index slipped 0.3% Friday as U.S.-Iran tensions resurfaced.
- Aldar slid 2.6% after word got out about its $1 billion subordinated hybrid note deal with Apollo.
- Invictus shares climbed 1.6% after the company posted a 34% jump in full-year profit.
Abu Dhabi’s main index slipped 0.3% Friday as traders digested fresh U.S.-Iran tensions—President Donald Trump set Tehran a 10–15 day deadline for nuclear talks. Aldar Properties dropped 2.6%, Agility Global was down 1.4%. Invictus Investment gained 1.6% on the back of its profit update. Dubai’s benchmark closed 0.3% lower as well. Brent crude eased 0.4% to finish at $71.38 a barrel.
ADX tends to double as a barometer for geopolitical sentiment when headlines start moving. Oil’s still the primary force, unsurprisingly, and even robust company updates often fade quickly into the background.
The index hovered close to 10,581 points at Friday’s close, according to Trading Economics data. Now, Abu Dhabi traders are eyeing Monday’s open—watching for hints that the recent wave of selling is either exhausted or just taking a breather.
Aldar is back in the spotlight, securing a $1.0 billion private placement of subordinated hybrid notes from Apollo Global Management. These notes, which mix debt and equity features, are slated to go in as equity for Aldar Investment Properties. The deal also lets Aldar retire $500 million in perpetual hybrid notes—those went to Apollo in 2022—raising Aldar’s stake in that unit to 90%. CFO Faisal Falaknaz called the capital “long-term, flexible,” aimed at “enhancing balance sheet resilience.” On Apollo’s side, partner Jamshid Ehsani said this marks their fifth transaction with Aldar, a nod to Apollo’s ability to deliver “flexible capital solutions.” vazeno.files.cmp.optimizely.com
The stock slid hard on Friday, a reminder of how fast rate or risk news can take over, whatever the structure. Some traders are eyeing potential buying interest, especially if oil prices stabilize.
Invictus delivered clean figures: audited 2025 EBITDA hit 458.5 million dirhams, soaring 184%. Revenue reached 13.3 billion, up 49%. Net profit came in at 227.6 million, up 37%. The board’s offering—a 40 million dirham cash payout. CEO Amir Daoud Abdellatif called 2025 “a defining year,” pointing to a revamped investment approach, with Invictus chasing 25 billion dirhams in revenue by 2028. apigateway.adx.ae
Now, the focus shifts to whether specific company stories can break through as the broader market enters a key phase. If risk sentiment takes a hit, stocks linked to property, banks, and energy tend to get battered first.
Here’s the risk: it’s clear-cut, tilted in just one direction. Escalating U.S.-Iran news could trigger another rapid wave of de-risking. ADX liquidity can run thin, especially when big names start sliding all at once—there’s not always much of a buffer.
ADX will halt trading in Emirates Telecom Group (Etisalat Group) shares from 13:00 local time on Feb. 24, according to the local schedule. The suspension stays in effect until the board meeting ends and results are released, putting one of the exchange’s heavyweights on ice for now.
