Dubai Financial Market extends London road show following huge demand

The road show has been extended to three days, rather than two, and Air Arabia, which will shortly list its shares on DFM, has joined the current group of 13 DFM-listed companies participating in the event.

More than 200 London-based institutional investors and fund managers will take part in the conference, an initiative aimed at channeling institutional foreign investment into the DFM and its listed companies.

As part of the market's strategy to continuously reach out to global fund managers and institutional investors, DFM also announced that it will organise a series of similar conferences in the United States, United Kingdom and Far East in the next 12 months.

Essa Kazim, Chairman of Dubai Financial Market, said:

'This conference marks the beginning of a new era for DFM. Following the listing of DFM Company on the market, we have set a global target to consolidate the position of the bourse and enhance the corporate identity of DFM Company.'

He continued: 'The announcement of this conference has met with an extremely strong response from institutional investors in London. Already, all appointments with representatives of listed companies are fully booked. This reflects the very high level of interest among international fund managers, who are keen to invest in DFM.'

He concluded: 'DFM began laying the ground work for this project in February 2007 by forming a committee dedicated to its success. The aim of the conference is to strengthen relations with the managers of international funds, who will have an opportunity to identify prospects and opportunities for investing in DFM-listed companies.'

On the first day of the conference, which is being sponsored by Deutsche Bank and Citigroup, DFM and the listed companies will provide an overview of the economy of Dubai and the wider region, as well as their individual activities and financial performance. On the second and third day, representatives of listed companies will hold one-to-one meetings with managers of international funds.

Companies that will take part in the international investor conference in London are: Air Arabia, Amlak Finance, Arabtec Holding, Aramex, Dubai Financial Market Company, Dubai Investment Company, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emaar Properties, Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company, Salam International Investment, SHUAA Capital, Tabreed, Tamweel and Union Properties.