- Eligible Investors: Units of Simplified Investment Funds may
CMA Approves Instructions of Simplified Investment Funds
CMA Approves Robo‑Advisory Regulatory Framework
The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved amendments to the Capital Market Institutions Regulations, formally establishing the regulatory framework for robo‑advisory services in Saudi Arabia. This follows the successful pilot conducted within the CMA’s FinTech Lab and represents a shift from limited sandbox experimentation to full regulatory integration.
Robo‑advisory services may now be
DFSA publishes its conflicts of interest thematic review
In January 2026, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) published the results of a cross-sector thematic review into how Authorised Firms in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) identify, manage and monitor conflicts of interest. The review identified significant variability in standards and calling for targeted improvements across governance, identification, management, monitoring, record-keeping, inducements, and
Saudi CMA approves new controls on real estate ownership
The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved the Controls on the Ownership of Real Estate by Listed Companies, Investment Funds, and Special Purpose Entities (SPEs). These Controls will take effect concurrently with the new Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non‑Saudis (Royal Decree No. M/14) in January 2026.
These
VARA issues Circular – Enhanced Measures for High-Risk Jurisdictions
The Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has released a Circular addressed to all Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) outlining Enhanced Measures for High‑Risk Jurisdictions. This update follows the October 2025 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list revision and the UAE National Committee’s Decision No. (15) of 2025.
SAMA issues updated finance companies regulation
- Clear requirements for all financing activities.
- Updated aggregate finance limits and bank guarantees for licensing.
A Historic Milestone – Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Opens to All Foreign Investors
- Eliminates the concept of the Qualified
UAE SCA Renamed CMA, and Other Landmark Legislations
On 1 January 2026, Federal Decree-Law No. (32) of 2025 and Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2025 took effect which establish the regulatory framework for the capital markets sector and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) in the UAE.
This step is part of the UAE’s ongoing programme to modernize the sector’s legislative and
Global Regulation Tomorrow Plus: EMEA insights series: Episode 19 – UAE update
In our EMEA regulatory insights series colleagues from our EMEA offices provide an update on some of the key regulatory issues they are seeing in their local market. In this latest episode Karl Masi and Hasanali Pirbhai from our Dubai office provide a regulatory update for the UAE. This includes the FATF’s onsite assessment this
New Navigating Communications podcast – Promotional messages on social media platforms
In our latest podcast, our global Financial Services team discusses promotional messages on social media platforms, covering recent regulatory and enforcement developments in the UK, US and Dubai, as well as practical steps that global firms can be taking now in this area to manage their risk.
Listen to the episode here.
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