DIP Holding debuts on DFM in UAE’s first IPO of 2026

DUBAI: Dubai Financial Market (DFM) welcomed the successful debut of DIP Holding PLC, the owner of Dubai Investments Park (DIP), on Wednesday. The listing marks the UAE’s first initial public offering (IPO) in 2026, underscoring confidence in the UAE and Dubai’s capital markets and their position as a leading global investment hub. The IPO raised approximately AED1.9 billion (US$529 million) through the sale of 1,735,243,300 existing ordinary shares, representing 20% of the company’s issued share capital, by Dubai Investments PJSC, the sole selling shareholder. Dubai Investments retains an 80% stake following the listing. The IPO was priced at AED1.12 per share, implying a market capitalisation of approximately AED9.7 billion (US$2.6 billion) at listing and a dividend yield of approximately 7.5%, based on the company’s expected annualised dividend of AED725 million for FY2027. The offering attracted strong demand from local, regional and international investors, with strong coverage across the previously announced price range. To mark the listing, Khalid bin Kalban, Chairman of DIP Holding and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Investments PJSC, and Omar AlMesmar, Chief Executive Officer of DIP Holding, rang the market-opening bell at DFM in the presence of Helal Al Marri, Chairman of the DFM Board of Directors, and Hamed Ali, Chief Executive Officer of DFM and Nasdaq Dubai. They were joined by board members, senior management and employees from Dubai Investments and DIP Holding, alongside Al Mal Capital, financial adviser to Dubai Investments on the IPO, as well as representatives of the banks, bookrunners, legal advisers and other transaction partners that supported the completion of the offering and listing. Khalid Jassim Bin Kalban, Chairman of DIP Holding and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Investments PJSC, said, “Today is an incredibly proud moment for both DIP Holding and Dubai Investments. The successful completion of this IPO and Dubai Investments' first partial exit through a public offering, represents an important milestone in the Group's journey and demonstrates its ability to build, scale and bring to market strong, mature and resilient businesses. The strong appetite that has been seen from a broad mix of investors is a clear endorsement of DIP Holding's differentiated business model, the quality and stability of the business that has been built over more than 25 years, and the strength of Dubai Investments' approach to long-term value creation. It is also a powerful vote of confidence in Dubai, its growth story and the continued depth and attractiveness of its capital markets.” Omar AlMesmar, Chief Executive Officer of DIP Holding, said, “Today is a moment of immense pride for everyone at DIP Holding and DIP Holding is incredibly excited to begin this next chapter as a publicly listed company. DIP Holding enters the market from a position of strength, with a differentiated capital-light business model that delivers stable, recurring income, supported by long-term leases and a highly committed tenant base that has invested significantly in the Park over the years. “The exceptional performance in the first half of 2026 demonstrates the strength and resilience of the business, and this shows significant opportunities to build on this momentum. With clear and visible growth levers through embedded rental repricing, increasing subleasing fees and the repositioning of plots to higher-value uses, DIP Holding is confident in its ability to deliver sustainable earnings growth and strong cash generation, without the need for significant additional capital investment.” Helal Al Marri, Chairman of the DFM Board of Directors, said, “The debut of DIP Holding, as the UAE's first initial public offering of 2026, signals renewed conviction among issuers and investors alike in the strength and direction of Dubai's capital markets, where total market capitalisation on DFM has reached over AED1 trillion. Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, we continue to widen access to equity markets for established national companies and to bring new income-generating asset classes within reach of investors. Each new listing strengthens Dubai's standing as a financial centre of choice for companies seeking international capital.” Hamed Ali, Chief Executive Officer of DFM and Nasdaq Dubai, said, “The listing of DIP Holding reflects the strength of demand in Dubai markets, with the offering attracting strong interest from local, regional and international investors. It also introduces a distinctive, income-generating profile to DFM, underpinned by long-term leases and a committed tenant base. As we continue to strengthen our market infrastructure and widen the opportunities available to investors, our focus remains on supporting companies well beyond listing day.” I