Let the game begin, stock exchange says

Dubai: Dubai Financial Market (DFM) announced Wednesday the official launch of its annual Stock Game, the most popular educational initiative among UAE school and university students.

In its eighth round, the competition is coming back this year with a comprehensive Arabic version of its dedicated website in response to participant feedback. The competition will run from March 29 to April 22 and the results will be announced at an award ceremony due to take place during the last week of April. The deadline for registration is March 28.

The Stock Game is an annual initiative by the Dubai Financial Market aimed at nurturing a new generation and achieving a high level of awareness of financial services and investment. The competition has received a phenomenal response from various educational institutions during the last seven years, where almost 10,000 students representing 40 educational institutions participated.

During the first half of March, DFM will organise a series of seminars and roadshows to be held at the main educational institutions in the UAE to explain the nature of the competition and its main features to the students and their professors.

During the course of The Stock Game, students will have the opportunity to virtually trade in securities listed on the Dubai Financial Market through the market website, as per the live prices during trading hours. Each student will receive a virtual amount of Dh1 million and can use it to buy and sell shares and securities during the competition.

DFM gives students the chance to trade in a real marketplace as the corporate actions that may take place during the competition, such as dividends, bonus shares and the closure of the register are implemented similarly to the real market.

The total value of prizes in the past seven years reached Dh266,000. Additionally, the total value this year will be Dh42,000. Winners are defined by the gains achieved during the competition.

The first winner will receive a cash prize of Dh15,000, the second will get Dh10,000 and the third will receive Dh5,000.

Moreover a prize of Dh1,000 will be distributed to each student falling between the fourth and 15th places, in addition to certificates and trophies.

"Over the last seven years the competition proved to be the most popular initiative for students of schools and universities, a fact that is well supported with the increased number of participants and the huge interest we see from the educational community. The Stock Game gives students the chance to sharpen their skills and exhibit their talents," Mubarak Al Dossari, General Coordinator of the DFM Stock Game, said in a press release Thursday.

Points mean prizes