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UAE retail investors favoured tech and AI-driven stocks in 2025
Strategy Inc. led the UAE gainers table with a 246 per cent increase in holders YoY, reflecting sustained investor appetite for the bitcoin treasury company
- PUBLISHED: Thu 15 Jan 2026, 10:01 PM
Retail investors in the UAE continued to favour global technology giants and AI-linked stocks in 2025, a study showed on Thursday.
In particular, Strategy Inc finished the year with the biggest proportional increase in UAE-based holders on the eToro platform compared to the end of 2024.
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Tech dominated the UAE top gainers’ list with AI, cloud and semiconductor companies taking the lead. Strategy Inc. led the UAE gainers table with a 246 per cent increase in holders YoY, reflecting sustained investor appetite for the bitcoin treasury company. The list also featured Adobe (+91 per cent) and Broadcom (+66 per cent) ranking second and third respectively, supported by enterprise spending on cloud infrastructure, AI tools, and data processing capacities.
The semiconductor industry remained a core theme for UAE investors with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (+40 per cent) and Nvidia (+24 per cent) both recording strong growth in holders. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms (+37 per cent), Alphabet (+28 per cent), Netflix (+59 per cent) and Palantir (+32 per cent) reflect broader demand for businesses benefiting from AI and digital engagement trends.
Locally-based, Salik Company PJSC (+60 per cent) was the 4th top riser, highlighting investor preference for predictable, cash-generative infrastructure assets within the UAE market.
George Naddaf, Managing Director at eToro (MENA), said: “Despite a turbulent year for Strategy, many retail investors still back the bitcoin treasury company, putting it at the top of 2025’s ‘risers’ list with the biggest increase in holders compared to 2024. This is a classic ‘buy the dip’ scenario, and as the stock is closely tied to the performance of bitcoin, this also represents a vote of confidence in the original crypto from retail investors in the UAE. Meanwhile, platforms like Adobe, Meta, Alphabet, and Netflix, gained from improved digital advertising trends and stronger user monetisation. Special mention goes to Salik, which stands out as the only locally listed company in this list, reflecting investor confidence in its expansion-linked revenues and resilient cash flows.”
“Ultimately, AI and digital transformation remains the unifying theme. AI-led capital expenditure accelerated this year, with enterprises increasing spending on cloud infrastructure, semiconductors and data analytics, directly benefitting the top three risers.”
At the other end of the spectrum, the biggest declines in holders were concentrated in smaller-cap and more volatile stocks, as investors took profits and rebalanced portfolios amid changing macroeconomic conditions.
Nutanix (-91 per cent) and TransMedics Group (-89 per cent) saw the steepest drops in holders, followed by NuScale Power (-48 per cent) and Cleanspark (-43 per cent), sectors where elevated volatility and execution risk may have prompted investors to lock in gains. Technology and growth-oriented stocks such as Micron Technology (-36 per cent), Unity Software (-33 per cent), Jumia Technologies (-28 per cent) and Riot Platforms (-27 per cent) also saw reduced participation, alongside CrowdStrike Holdings and Rivian Automotive (both -26 per cent), suggesting a broader pullback from more volatile growth exposures.
Despite notable movement among the stocks that fell, the ranking of the most widely held stocks among UAE investors remained broadly stable in 2025. Nvidia retained its position as the most held stock, followed by Tesla and Amazon, highlighting the continued dominance of US mega-cap technology in UAE retail portfolios. Apple also held steady in fourth place, while Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Alphabet each moved up one position, suggesting investors are fine-tuning their core holdings rather than making major portfolio changes.
Naddaf added: “The stability at the top reflects strong conviction, with the most widely held stocks maintaining their positions year-on-year through to fourth place. The top three continued to deliver in 2025, with Nvidia benefiting from record AI chip demand, Amazon from sustained cloud growth through AWS, and Tesla maintaining strong cash generation despite a tougher EV backdrop. For many UAE investors, these stocks remain core, long-term holdings rather than tactical trades. The most significant shift in the most held ranking came from Strategy Inc, which climbed from 21st place at the end of 2024 to 8th place at the end of 2025. By contrast, NIO slipped to second last, which may indicate a selective rebalancing strategy within the EV sector rather than exiting it entirely.”
Somshankar Bandyopadhyay is a News Editor with more than three decades of experience. Currently, he manages the news production of the business section, ensuring that the top economic and business news of the day reaches its readers.