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
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
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
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
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
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.