Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Virtu Financial Announce the Launch of Block Crossing for Equity Securities Listed on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
Virtu and ADX introduce POSIT block-trading access for ADX-listed equities, using ADX’s enhanced block trade facility with T+2 settlement.
Rhea-AI Summary
Virtu Financial (VIRT) and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange have launched the POSIT block-trading indications network for equities listed on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange on 8 September 2026.
The launch leverages ADX’s recently enhanced Negotiated Block Trade facility, with Virtu becoming the first firm to use the upgraded platform to complete electronic block trades sourced via POSIT. All resulting trades settle on a T+2 basis through Abu Dhabi Central Securities Depository, matching the standard ADX settlement cycle. For firms that are not direct ADX members, connectivity, brokerage and post-trade services are provided by Arqaam Capital, Virtu’s regional partner.
This is described as the first phase of POSIT supporting block-trading indications for Middle Eastern and North African equity securities, giving ADX members and institutional clients access to Virtu’s global block-liquidity network in ADX-listed securities.
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Key Figures
- Settlement cycle
- T+2
- All ADX block trades
Key Terms
t+2 technical
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LONDON and ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtu Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VIRT), a leading provider of global, multi-asset financial services that delivers liquidity and innovative, transparent products across the complete investment cycle to global markets, and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, one of the largest and fastest growing exchanges in MENA, today announced the launch of POSIT® block-trading indications network for equity securities listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
The launch follows recent enhancements ADX made to its Negotiated Block Trade facility, giving exchange members greater flexibility to execute large transactions on-platform. Virtu is the first firm to use this upgraded facility to complete electronic block trades sourced through the POSIT system. All trades will settle on a T+2 basis through the Abu Dhabi Central Securities Depository — the same settlement cycle used for standard ADX trades. For firms that are not direct ADX members, connectivity, brokerage and post-trade services are provided by Arqaam Capital, Virtu’s regional partner.
This represents the first phase of Virtu's POSIT facilitating block-trading indications for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) equity securities. The facility gives ADX members and their institutional clients access to Virtu's established global network for sourcing block liquidity in ADX-listed securities with minimal market impact and information leakage.
"Abu Dhabi's capital markets are evolving rapidly,” said Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of the ADX Group. “By welcoming Virtu's POSIT technology to ADX, we provide institutions seeking large trades direct access to new liquidity opportunities in our market. With Virtu as our infrastructure partner, we continue to deepen our global institutional participation and build up our liquidity pool, while preserving the integrity of price discovery on our public order book. This partnership is part of our ongoing commitment toward building a world-class globally connected market for investors and issuers."
"Extending the POSIT technologies to ADX-listed securities further enhances the appeal and accessibility of Abu Dhabi’s equity capital markets to institutional investors globally,” said Rob Boardman, CEO of Virtu Execution Services, EMEA. “The innovation and assistance provided by ADX and our local partner Arqaam Capital were critical to the success of the project.”
“Arqaam has always been committed to bringing innovative trading technologies to the GCC,” said Sumeet Akewar, Head of Electronic Trading at Arqaam Capital. “The launch of POSIT, beginning with ADX in partnership with Virtu, reflects our commitment to advancing the region’s electronic trading ecosystem and providing institutional investors with world-class trading solutions.”
About Virtu Financial
The Virtu Financial group is comprised of companies and financial services firms that leverage cutting-edge technology to deliver liquidity to the global markets and innovative, transparent trading solutions to our clients. Through its POSIT platform, Virtu operates one of the world's longest-running and most widely used electronic block-trading networks, serving institutional asset managers globally. For more information about Virtu’s POSIT platform and other execution tools, please visit our client solutions page at virtu.com.
About Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) was established on 15 November 2000 pursuant to Local Law No. (3) of 2000, which granted the exchange legal rights with independent financial and administrative status, as well as the necessary supervisory and executive powers necessary to carry out its functions. On 17 March 2020, the ADX was converted from a public entity into a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) in accordance with Law No. (8) of 2020.
The ADX Group, a market infrastructure group comprising the exchange (ADX) and its post-trade ecosystem, including its wholly owned subsidiaries AD Depository and AD Clear, was established. Through its integrated and globally aligned business structure, the ADX Group supports efficient, transparent, and resilient capital markets across trading, clearing, settlement, and custody.
The Group provides an efficient and regulated marketplace for the trading of securities, including equities issued by public joint-stock companies, bonds issued by governments and corporations, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other financial instruments approved by the UAE Capital Market Authority.
The ADX is the second-largest exchange in the Arab region by market capitalization. Its strategy of delivering stable financial performance through diversified revenue streams is aligned with the UAE’s national development agenda, “Towards the Next 50”, which aims to build a sustainable, diversified, and high-value-added economy.
For more information, please contact:
Salama Almarzooqi
Analyst of Corporate Communications
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)
Mobile: +971(50) 602 6038
Email: almarzooqis@adx.ae
Contact
For Virtu:
Matt Sandberg
Investor Relations
investor_relations@virtu.com
Petri Darby
Media
media@virtu.com
FAQ
What does the POSIT launch on ADX enable for market participants?
The launch enables ADX members and their institutional clients to source and execute large equity block trades in ADX-listed securities through Virtu’s POSIT indications network. The company states that this aims to provide access to additional block liquidity while seeking to minimize market impact and information leakage, and to maintain price discovery on ADX’s public order book.
How are trades executed through POSIT on ADX settled?
All electronic block trades completed via Virtu’s POSIT system and ADX’s Negotiated Block Trade facility settle on a T+2 basis through the Abu Dhabi Central Securities Depository, which is the same settlement cycle applied to standard ADX trades.
How can non-ADX member firms access this block-trading capability?
Firms that are not direct members of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange can access the POSIT-based block-trading capability via Arqaam Capital. Arqaam provides connectivity, brokerage, and post-trade services as Virtu’s regional partner for this initiative.
What role does this launch play in Virtu’s regional expansion?
This launch is described as the first phase of Virtu’s POSIT platform facilitating block-trading indications for Middle Eastern and North African equity securities. The extension of POSIT technology to ADX-listed securities is presented as enhancing the appeal and accessibility of Abu Dhabi’s equity capital markets to institutional investors globally.