Public joint-stock companies in the UAE distributed Dh61.73 billion in cash dividends and bonus shares during the past year, the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) reported.
Of this amount, Dh58 billion (94%) was allocated to cash dividends, while Dh3.72 billion (6%) was distributed as bonus shares, SCA said in a report sent exclusively to the state news agency WAM.
The banking sector emerged as the top dividend payer, with Dh18.35 billion in cash dividends. The energy sector followed closely, distributing Dh11.36 billion. Other significant contributors included telecommunications and utilities, with approximately Dh8.73 billion and Dh8.72 billion, respectively.
The real estate sector ranked fifth with total distributions of Dh5.54 billion, followed by the transportation sector with Dh1.87 billion; the services sector with Dh1.06 billion; the insurance sector with Dh975.3 million, the investment and financial services sector with Dh849.9 million; the industrial sector with Dh274.04 million; and the consumer goods sector with Dh199.6 million.
Non-listed companies accounted for Dh60 million 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 Dh3.439 billion, followed by the services sector with Dh281.7 million.
