Watch: Sheikh Hamdan visits Bombay Stock Exchange, rings iconic opening bell

On Wednesday, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) as part of his official visit to India. He met with Sundararaman Ramamurthy, MD and CEO of BSE and rang the opening bell to mark the start of the day’s trading session.

Established in 1875, the BSE is located in Mumbai, India’s financial and commercial capital and is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world. During the visit, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on the operations of the BSE, which today ranks among the world’s largest global stock exchanges in terms of the number of listed companies—exceeding 5,600—as well as market capitalisation. He was also informed about the exchange’s continued efforts to enhance its infrastructure and expand services to support the growth of India’s capital markets.

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Established in 1875, the BSE is located in Mumbai, India’s financial and commercial capital and is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world. During the visit, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on the operations of the BSE, which today ranks among the world’s largest global stock exchanges in terms of the number of listed companies—exceeding 5,600—as well as market capitalisation. He was also informed about the exchange’s continued efforts to enhance its infrastructure and expand services to support the growth of India’s capital markets.

  in India for his first official visit on Tuesday. During the two-day trip, he held talks with several senior Indian officials, and attended the launch of Dubai International Chamber’s new office in Bengaluru.

 During the BSE visit, he underscored the UAE’s keenness to deepen cooperation between its financial markets and international counterparts. He noted both countries’ efforts to enhance capital markets through digital innovation, including the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. 

He also expressed hope for greater cooperation between the BSE and Dubai Financial Market, which will further enhance Dubai’s growing role as a key link between eastern and western capital markets.

Start of a new era

Dubai entrepreneur Siddharth Balachandran, executive chairman and CEO of Buimerc Corporation Ltd in DIFC, is the largest individual shareholder of the BSE, holding around 3.46 percent of the institution. The businessman, who also holds 0.35 per cent of National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSEIL), said exciting times were ahead for UAE-India partnership.

“The sounding of the legendary bell of the iconic Bombay Stock Exchange was truly a symbol of how strong the economic and strategic relationship between the of UAE and India with India offering unparalleled volume and the UAE offering unparalleled dynamism,” he told Khaleej Times. “It signalled the end of the visit of Sheikh Hamdan but also manifested the start of a great new era in bilateral relations between UAE and India.”

In 2016, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan- then the UAE Crown Prince- conducted to the BSE. Afterwards, he toured the stock exchange and posed for a photo in front of the bull.