The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), one of the fastest-growing exchange groups in the Middle East, today listed two South Korea-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by Hanwha Asset Management, giving local and regional investors access to Korea’s leading advanced manufacturing, technology, defense, and aerospace industries.
The PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) and PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index ETF (KMCA) are the fifth and sixth cross-listed ETFs on ADX from the U.S. and bring the total ADX ETF offerings to 26. Both funds are listed on NYSE Arca and are now dual-listed on ADX.
The dual listings on ADX are well-timed as needs and demand for strategic partnerships for innovation, high-tech manufacturing, total solutions, advanced infrastructure, AI semiconductors, robotics, and others have expanded rapidly across the globe.
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Group, said: “As a regional capital market hub and multi-asset exchange, ADX provides reliable and efficient cross-border capital access. The KDEF and KMCA listings come at a time of growing economic ties and stronger cooperation between the UAE and the Republic of Korea. We are glad to bridge local and global investors to South Korea’s thriving industries, and to unlock Abu Dhabi’s opportunities for Hanwha’s international community. We thank Hanwha for choosing ADX as their listing partner and look forward to strengthening our investment connectivity.”
Mr Young Jin Choi, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Hanwha Asset Management, said: “Financial markets are global, but investment opportunities are rooted in local strengths. Connecting the two is one of the asset manager’s most important roles. KDEF and KMCA reflect Korea’s distinctive advantage: world-class technology combined with the capacity to manufacture at scale. Through ADX, Gulf investors can now access these strategic industries during local trading hours. Building on Hanwha Financial Group’s longstanding partnership with the UAE and our presence in Abu Dhabi, these listings expand our industrial partnership into a financial one.”
The KDEF ETF tracks the Korea Defense Industry USD Index, allocating at least 80% of its assets to South Korean companies critical to national security technology, advanced defense manufacturing, and aerospace innovation, including Hanwha Aerospace and LIG Nex1 among its 20 holdings.
The KMCA ETF tracks the Akros Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index, providing targeted exposure to 35 market leaders across six strategic supply-chain sectors, led by semiconductor and technology heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
As the region’s leading venue for diversified and thematic ETFs, ADX will continue to introduce innovative and diverse investment vehicles to connect its investors to thriving industries and economies. ADX’s ETF trading values reached more than 291 million dirhams from January to October 2026, solidifying the exchange as the region’s most active and liquid ETF hub.
