Dubai and Saudi

In the latest edition of our global podcast series, Future of Payments, Matthew Shanahan and Ratul Roshan cover recent market and regulatory developments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia including the expansion of the Jaywan scheme and the third phase of open banking.

Listen to the episode here.

We have published a new briefing note that considers the core proposals in Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) Consultation Paper No. 173. CP173 sets out wide-ranging proposals to enhance the DFSA’s collective investment fund regime in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

On 21 July 2026, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued a targeted report on the regulatory challenges from decentralised finance (DeFi).

Background

In 2019, the FATF updated Recommendation15 and extended the application of the FATF Standards to virtual assets (VAs) and virtual asset service providers (VASPs).

In this latest edition of Regulation Around the World, we focus on the global transformation of the settlement of securities transactions, as many jurisdictions begin to shift from a standard settlement timeline of two business days after trade to just one. In this issue, we examine these developments, exploring the regulatory frameworks, cross-border challenges and technological

On 6 May 2026, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) issued a report on vulnerabilities in private credit.

The report forms part of the FSB’s work programme to enhance resilience in non-bank financial intermediation.

Private credit activity has grown rapidly, to an estimated $1.5 to 2.0 trillion in assets at end-2024 and is heavily

On 6 May 2026, the Bank for International Settlements’ Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published a consultation on proposed amendments to (i) the Resilience of central counterparties (CCPs): Further guidance on the Principles for financial market infrastructures (PFMI) (CCP resilience

Prediction markets have been hitting the headlines and are seeing increased interest globally, with some analysts estimating that the “trading” volumes could reach USD 1 trillion by 2030. Although trading volumes are soaring, the nature of prediction markets have raised a number of regulatory questions.

In this article, we highlight key UAE legal issues

On 1 February 2026, the Saudi Capital Market Authority implemented amendments to the Rules for Foreign Investment in Securities, opening the Kingdom’s capital market to all categories of foreign investors for direct investment in the local stock exchange, the Tadawul. The reforms eliminate the concept of the Qualified Foreign Investor, remove the regulatory framework governing

3 February – 3 March 2026

Introduction

ESG is changing the landscape for financial institutions as stakeholders, including investors, increasingly expect them to make their operations more sustainable.

Financial services regulators also view ESG as a priority, embedding the principles of climate-related financial risks into their supervisory frameworks and dealing with greenwashing issues.

There is