October 30, 2026 | Abu Dhabi
Two U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offering exposure to South Korea's defense and advanced manufacturing industries are scheduled to begin trading on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) on November 2, 2026, further expanding the exchange's international ETF offering.
The PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) and PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index ETF (KMCA), associated with South Korea's Hanwha Asset Management, are currently listed on NYSE Arca in the United States and managed by Exchange Traded Concepts.
OCEANE Global will serve as market maker for both ETFs on ADX, providing liquidity and facilitating secondary-market trading.
What Are KDEF and KMCA?
KDEF — PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF
Launched in February 2025, KDEF provides exposure to South Korea's defense and aerospace industries. Its portfolio includes leading Korean companies such as Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, Korea Aerospace Industries, and LIG Nex1.
The ETF tracks the Korea Defense Industry Index and offers investors diversified exposure to companies operating within South Korea's defense industry.
KMCA — PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index ETF
Launched in May 2026, KMCA focuses on South Korea's advanced manufacturing industries, including AI semiconductors, batteries, shipbuilding, power infrastructure, robotics and defense.
The ETF has significant exposure to two of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which together represented approximately 48% of the portfolio as of October 28, 2026.
This makes KMCA particularly sensitive to developments in the global semiconductor industry, including AI infrastructure investment and demand for advanced memory chips.
Expanding International ETF Access on ADX
The cross-listings will provide UAE investors with access to two specialized South Korean equity strategies through ADX, without requiring direct access to overseas exchanges.
The listings also follow comments by ADX CEO Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi at the Arab Federation of Capital Markets conference, where he indicated that the exchange expected three to four additional ETF listings before the end of 2026.
OCEANE Global's appointment as market maker will support trading liquidity by providing continuous buy and sell quotations in accordance with applicable exchange requirements.
The addition of KDEF and KMCA represents another step in ADX's efforts to broaden its ETF offering and strengthen Abu Dhabi's position as a regional hub for international ETF investing.
