UAE public joint-stock companies distributed a total of AED61.73bn ($16.8bn) in cash dividends and bonus shares during the past year, according to a Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) report.
Of this amount, AED58bn ($15.8bn/94 per cent) was allocated to cash dividends, while AED3.72bn ($1bn/6 per cent) was distributed as bonus shares, SCA said in a report.
The banking sector emerged as the top dividend payer, with AED18.35bn ($5bn) in cash dividends.
UAE dividends
The energy sector followed closely, distributing AED11.36bn ($3.1bn).
Other significant contributors included telecommunications and utilities at approximately AED8.73bn ($2.4bn) and AED8.72bn ($2.4bn) respectively.
The real estate sector ranked fifth with total distributions of AED5.54bn ($1.5bn), followed by the transportation sector with AED1.87bn ($509m); the services sector with AED1.06bn ($289bn); the insurance sector with AED975.3m ($266m), the investment and financial services sector with AED849.9m ($231m); the industrial sector with AED274.04m ($75m); and the consumer goods sector with AED199.6m ($54m).
Non-listed companies accounted for AED60m ($16m) in total distributions.
The cash dividends included both those approved by general assemblies and those based on interim financial results for 2023.
The banking sector also dominated bonus share distributions, totalling AED3.439bn ($936bn), followed by the services sector with AED281.7m ($77m).
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