DGCX Trade Volumes Jump 30% in 2025 as ESMA Recognition Lifts Global Confidence in Dubai Markets
The Dubai Gold and Commodities platform (DGCX) closed 2025 with a sharp rise in trading activity, reporting a 30% year-on-year increase in volumes and contract values approaching USD 47 billion, underscoring the growing role of Dubai as a regional and international derivatives hub.
At the identical time, the Dubai Commodities Clearing Corporation (DCCC), DGCX’s clearing house, secured renewed recognition from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) as a third-country central counterparty (CCP), a regulatory milestone that strengthens global confidence in Dubai’s financial market infrastructure.
Together, the surge in trading volumes and the ESMA decision highlight both the commercial momentum and regulatory credibility underpinning Dubai’s expanding role in global risk management, price discovery, and cross-border capital flows.
Record Volumes Signal Deepening Market Activity
DGCX reported total traded volumes of 2,048,556 lots in 2025, representing a 30% increase compared with the previous year. The value of contracts traded reached USD 46.96 billion, reflecting not only higher activity levels but also increased utilisation of the platform for meaningful hedging and investment purposes.
Average daily volumes rose to 7,940 lots, while average open interest stood at 13,015 lots, indicating sustained participation and liquidity across contracts rather than short-lived trading spikes. The platform also recorded its highest single-day trading volume in April 2025, when 26,108 lots were traded.
Gold futures were a standout contributor to growth. Volumes in gold contracts surged 613% year-on-year to 5,335 lots, reflecting heightened demand for hedging and price discovery amid global macroeconomic uncertainty and persistent volatility in precious metals markets.
Gold Futures Lead as Hedging Demand Accelerates
The sharp increase in gold futures activity highlights DGCX’s role as a regional benchmark for precious metals trading. As inflation dynamics, geopolitical risks, and interest-rate expectations continued to influence investor behaviour in 2025, market participants increasingly turned to gold-linked derivatives to manage exposure.
The scale of the year-on-year growth suggests that gold futures are no longer a peripheral product within the platform’s ecosystem, but a core driver of volume and liquidity. This shift reinforces DGCX’s positioning as a venue capable of supporting both regional hedgers and international participants viewking exposure to global commodity trends.
Beyond gold, the overall increase in average open interest points to longer-term positioning and confidence in DGCX’s contract design, clearing robustness, and operational resilience.
ESMA Recognition Strengthens International Standing
Alongside its trading performance, DGCX marked a major regulatory achievement in 2025 with the re-recognition of the Dubai Commodities Clearing Corporation by ESMA as a third-country CCP.
The recognition follows a detailed regulatory assessment process and confirms that DCCC meets European standards for risk management, governance, and operational resilience. For international market participants, the decision provides an additional layer of assurance when clearing trades through Dubai-based infrastructure.
ESMA recognition is particularly significant for firms with European regulatory obligations, as it enables them to continue using DCCC for clearing while meeting compliance requirements. It also signals the UAE’s progress in aligning its financial market frameworks with global best practice.
Leadership Highlights Confidence and Global Connectivity
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DGCX, said the results reflected both market momentum and growing international trust in Dubai’s financial ecosystem.
“DGCX delivered a strong performance in 2025, with total traded volumes rising by over 30% to surpass two million lots and value traded exceeding USD 46 billion,” he said. “This momentum, reinforced by a sharp increase in gold futures activity, signals the deepening of our markets and the central role we continue to play in effective risk management and price discovery.”
He added that ESMA’s decision carried broader implications beyond clearing recognition. “ESMA’s recognition of the Dubai Commodities Clearing Corporation as a third-country CCP, following a rigorous regulatory assessment, highlights the growing international confidence in Dubai’s market infrastructure and the UAE’s standing as a world-class and trusted hub for global trade and capital flows.”
Awards and Infrastructure Investment Reinforce Momentum
The platform’s 2025 performance was further validated in November, when DGCX was named MENA platform of the Year at the 2025 Futures and Options World (FOW) International Awards.
The award recognised DGCX’s continued investment in market infrastructure, product development, and risk management frameworks aligned with international standards. It also reflects the platform’s efforts to balance regional market needs with the expectations of global institutional participants.
Over recent years, DGCX has focused on enhancing transparency, capitalisation, and international connectivity, positioning itself as a bridge between Middle Eastern markets and global derivatives participants. The combination of rising volumes, diversified product usage, and regulatory recognition suggests these investments are translating into tangible market outcomes.
Dubai’s Role in Global Derivatives Continues to Expand
The 2025 results underline DGCX’s broader contribution to Dubai’s financial ecosystem. By providing access to transparent, well-regulated trading and clearing services, the platform supports market participants viewking efficient risk management answers across commodities and derivatives.
For Dubai, the performance of DGCX and the ESMA recognition of DCCC reinforce the emirate’s ambition to serve as a globally connected financial centre capable of meeting international regulatory and operational expectations.
As global markets continue to navigate volatility, geopolitical shifts, and evolving regulatory standards, the combination of commercial growth and regulatory validation positions DGCX to play an increasingly central role in regional and international derivatives markets.
