Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has distributed cash dividends worth AED15.8 billion to 466,482 investors for the financial year 2017, a media report said.

The number of listed companies that have outsourced the dividend distribution process to DFM increased from 35 companies during the previous year to 41 companies this year. Investors received their dividends via iVESTOR Card as well as bank transfer, reported Emirates news agency Wam.

Essa Kazim, chairman of DFM, said: "As part of its strategy to provide various market participants with smart and efficient solutions, DFM has been providing its cash dividend distribution service since 2011 in a leading step amongst stock markets in the region. This service is gaining momentum yearly with listed companies recognising its value as an efficient and seamless solution that eliminated the lengthy process of cash dividend distribution in the past."