In the first half of 2025, trading volumes experienced significant growth, soaring to $1.5 trillion, marking a 42.5% increase from the previous half-year, which recorded $1.06 trillion. A notable contributor to this surge was the heightened trading activity within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where volumes reached $804.1 billion. This reflects a robust 53.3% increase compared to the second half of 2024.
The MENA region now accounts for over half of the global trading volumes sourced by the company, representing 53% in the first half of 2025. The upward trend was evident during Q1 2025, where trading volumes hit $656 billion, and this momentum continued into Q2 with volumes exceeding $840 billion.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerged as a leading force, making up 71.7% of the total MENA trading volumes, affirming its status as one of the fastest-growing online trading centers globally. This surge in trading activity is attributed to an increasing demand in the region for varied, digital-focused trading experiences.
Key highlights from these trading activities include:
– A total of $1.5 trillion in global trading volumes for the first half of 2025, up from $1.06 trillion in the previous half-year.
– MENA trading volumes reaching $804.1 billion—a 52% increase from $528.6 billion in the latter half of 2024—indicating a strong representation of 53.3% of the global market.
– European trading contributed $224 billion, accounting for 14.9% of global volumes, with Germany and Italy being significant contributors.
– The MENA region demonstrated a higher trading frequency with 35,523,172 trades executed by 35,000 traders, compared to 26,368,824 trades from 61,400 traders in Europe.
– The most popular trading instruments included indices, especially the Nasdaq-100, which rebounded significantly by 18% in Q2 2025.
In discussing the growth trajectory, a representative noted the robustness of the platform in catering to traders across diverse markets, emphasizing the confidence and sophistication of MENA traders. The performance in Europe also bolstered global results, underlining a strong international presence.
Trading activity in MENA was primarily focused on indices and commodities, with $444.34 billion traded through indices. This indicates traders were engaged in navigating market fluctuations throughout the first half of 2025.
Europe was recognized as the second-largest contributor in the trading landscape for the first half of 2025, with an increase from $172.5 billion to $224 billion in volumes. Key market contributions came from Germany ($86.0 billion) and Italy ($25.7 billion).
The trading activity trends reflected broader market conditions, characterized by regional volatility stemming from geopolitical factors, particularly early in the year. The resulting downturn in equities gave way to a resurgence in Q2 as market sentiments improved, especially around tech stocks, which boosted the Nasdaq-100 index.
The strong performance of technology and AI-driven companies, such as NVIDIA and Microsoft, further solidified the Nasdaq-100’s popularity among traders, enhancing the overall appeal of index trading both in MENA and globally during this period.
The overall trading environment showcased a mix of volatility and opportunities, establishing high-interest areas within the indices as a favorite choice for traders looking to capitalize on market movements throughout the first half of 2025.