Cash dividends and bonus shares to the tune of Dh32.5 billion ($8.8 billion) have been distributed by 79 companies listed at Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market for Fiscal Year 2016, a report said.

Distribution of such big gains goes in line with the listed companies’ dedication to give investors a trading advantage and positive returns on their equities, reported Wam, citing statistics released by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA).

According to SCA figures, 70 companies distributed cash dividends worth Dh30.64 billion while four firms granted bonus shares worth Dh730.5 million and five firms distributed both cash and bonus shares worth Dh1.11 billion.

The banking sector comes on top in terms of the value of dividends, hitting Dh17 billion, accounting for 54 per cent of total distributions, with the telecommunications sectors accounting for 25.8 per cent worth Dh7.9 billion.

The property sector’s dividends hit Dh3.52 billion followed by the insurance sector at Dh568 million, the transportation sector at Dh561 million, the industrial sector Dh533 million, the services sector at Dh409 million, the investment sector at Dh389 million and the staple commodities at Dh189 million.

As per the statistics, 14 banks listed at both markets distributed to the tune of Dh16.56 billion.

At the telecommunication s sector, Etisalat distributed Dh6.95 billion and du Dh952 million.

The insurance companies came on top of in terms of the number of companies distributing cash dividends with a total of Dh568 million by 19 companies.