Every trading day, the world's stock exchanges are a frenzy of activity as brokers and traders frantically buy or sell to make a profit before the closing bell sounds.

As the Global Financial Market Forum in Abu Dhabi gets underway, CNBC takes a look inside some of the world's most spectacular stock exchanges.

Written by Alexandra Gibbs, special to CNBC.com.

Thanks to Germany's economic clout, Frankfurt is the biggest financial hub in continental Europe and the city's stock exchange is the most powerful of Germany's seven exchanges.

Owned by the Deutsche Borse Group, and founded in 1585, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange has more than 4,500 traders. In 2014, rising sales saw Deutsche Borse's profit jump almost 60 percent at 762 million euros ($855 million).

Source: Deutsche Borse, Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

In 2007, Jakarta and Surabaya's stock exchanges merged to create the Indonesia Stock Exchange, located in the impressive 32-floor IDX tower, in Jakarta.

Alongside the exchange, where 494 companies are listed, there is a fitness center, restaurants serving Asian cuisine, medical facilities and 1,500 parking spaces to accommodate its stock traders.

Source: Indonesia Stock Exchange, CEO Suite.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the world's most powerful and largest stock exchange. Currently, 1,867 companies are listed on the exchange—around 80 percent from the U.S.

Located on Wall Street, the NYSE makes up part of the world's financial capital, New York, which knocked London off the Global Financial Centers Index top spot in 2014.

In 2014, NYSE raised $70 billion from 129 initial public offerings (IPOs), making it the world's top exchange for company listings. Its total market capitalization currently stands at just over $16.6 trillion.

Source: NYSE, Bloomberg.

Putting other trading floors to shame with its opulent interior, the Bolsa de Madrid is housed in an 19th century palace.

The palace's décor is used to "ensure that generation after generation come to recognise, understand and appreciate the true essence of the very special business relationship underpinning the whole history of the stock market," according to its website.

The trading floor can hold more than 2,000 traders at any time.

Source: Bolsa de Madrid.

After Tokyo, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx) is Asia's most powerful stock exchange, with 1,600 listed companies.

As well as striving for the best in innovation and transparency, according to the exchange's website, the trading floor can be rented for corporate functions.

Source: HKEx.

Founded in 1987, Bahrain's stock exchange opened in June 1989 with 29 listed companies. It relocated to new premises in the Bahrain Financial Harbour, Manama, in 2010.

Today, the stock exchange has a total of 48 companies listed and even has its own Instagram account!

Source: Bahrain Bourse, Lonely Planet.

Formerly the world's top financial center (until 2014), the London Stock Exchange is only a stone's throw away from St Paul's Cathedral.

Dating back as early as 1698, the city's exchange is one of the largest, most powerful exchanges internationally, with a market cap of £8.7 billion ($13.4 billion). It currently has 2,428 companies listed.

Source: London Stock Exchange, Financial Times.

One of three financial exchanges in the city, the Chicago Board of Trade is the world's oldest futures and options exchange. It specializes in natural food products, such as grains, corn and soybeans.

The exchange's home, the Chicago Board of Trade Building, offers more than just financial-based activities: It has a cigar emporium, a dentist, yoga suite, restaurants, and even a florist.

Source: IG group, Chicago Board of Trade Building.

One of the newer exchanges on this list (it was founded in 2000), the Dubai Financial Market stands alongside the city's iconic skyscrapers and shopping malls.

The exchange's website says it follows five key values: transparency, confidentiality, integrity, efficiency and innovation and has a market cap of 15.8 billion United Arab Emirates Dirham ($4.3 billion).

Source: Bloomberg, Dubai Financial Market.

Situated in Argentina's capital city, the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange was designed by Alejandro Christophersen in the early 1900s.

As well as offering guided tours, the exchange also plays host to many art exhibitions, concerts and workshops.

Source: Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.

Founded in 1878, the Tokyo Stock Exchange moved to its current location in 1988.

The trading floor was refurbished in 2000, and has been renamed "TSE Arrows." It is currently staffed by 361 people.

Source: Tokyo Stock Exchange.