UAE Shares Close Higher as Non-oil Private Sector Growth Holds at 20-month High

07:42 AM EDT, 10/05/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Stock trading in the United Arab Emirates closed in the green as investors dissected the latest data from the country's non-oil private sector. At the close of Monday trading, the FTSE ADX General Index added 0.376%, while the DFM General Index gained 0.115%. The S&P Global UAE PMI, an indicator of the country's non-oil private sector activity, stood at 55.3 in September, unchanged from August's 20-month high. Output growth rose the fastest since February and customer demand improved, with a rapid increase in business activity. "While the economic picture looks more robust now, selling charges also rose markedly, suggesting that firms are taking the opportunity to boost their margins following a period of strong input cost pressures. With oil markets remaining volatile, and shipping routes still constrained, input costs and selling charges may remain elevated," S&P Global Market Intelligence principal economist David Owen said. On the geopolitical front, Middle East crude exports surpassed levels seen before the start of the US-Iran conflict in the last week of September, Reuters reported, citing data analytics companies Kpler and Vortexa. Despite the relief in supply disruption concerns, oil prices continued to trade above the $100 per barrel mark, with Brent crude oil futures standing at nearly $102.44 per barrel as of 4:40 pm UAE time. In other news, seven OPEC+ countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, agreed to keep oil output unchanged for November at their virtual meeting on Sunday. Back home and on the corporate front, Ras Al Khaimah Co. for White Cement & Construction Materials' (ADX:RAKWCT) board approved the appointment of Ajay Kumar as chief executive officer designate. The ceramic manufacturer closed the session flat when it last traded on Oct. 2. Elsewhere, Emirates Central Cooling Systems (DFM:EMPOWER), d/b/a Empower, will participate in the Airport Show 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre to support Dubai's aviation sector and vital facilities. Empower's stock ended the session 1.90% lower.