Re-election of the CEO of the Capital Market Authority as Chairman of the Regional Committee for Africa and the Middle East of the International Organization of Securities Commissions

ABU DHABI, 6 APRIL/WAM/ His Excellency Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, CEO of the Capital Market Authority in the UAE, has been re-elected as Chairman of the Regional Committee for Africa and the Middle East of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) for the period 2026-2028.

The committee, currently chaired by His Excellency Al-Awadhi, includes 41 regulatory bodies (29 voting members and 12 non-voting affiliate members) from Africa and the Middle East, and constitutes a pivotal platform for enhancing cooperation and coordination in the regulatory field at the regional level.

The renewal of the election of His Excellency Walid Saeed Al Awadhi unanimously and without competition reflects the level of confidence enjoyed by the UAE and its regulatory leadership, and also confirms the international appreciation for its efforts to build and develop advanced financial markets that anticipate the future and are characterized by transparency, flexibility, and the ability to keep pace with changes.

During his presidency, the Committee worked to strengthen oversight and enforcement frameworks, and expand cross-border regulatory cooperation.

This step comes at a time when challenges are increasing at the regional and international levels, which confirms the confidence of international regulatory bodies in the UAE’s ability to enhance continuity and its leadership in supporting the stability of financial markets. It also consolidates the country’s role as a major partner in enhancing regulatory cooperation and developing capital markets, and actively contributing to shaping future directions of the global financial regulatory landscape.

The renewal of the election of His Excellency Walid Saeed Al Awadhi confirms his active role within the organization and its regional committee, in addition to his leadership in efforts to consolidate the UAE’s position as a leading global financial center.

As Chairman of the Committee, he will continue to represent it on the Board of Directors of the International Organization of Securities Commissions, ensuring that the views of African and Middle Eastern countries are conveyed and contributing to the formulation of regulatory standards and policies at the international level.

Founded in 1983, the organization is the international standard-setting body for regulating securities markets, and includes more than 200 members who supervise more than 95% of global financial markets.

In this context, the presidency of the Regional Committee gains strategic importance in supporting the organization’s mission aimed at protecting investors, enhancing the integrity of markets, and consolidating financial stability.

His Excellency Muhammad Ali Al-Shurafa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Capital Market Authority, said that the renewal of the election of Walid Saeed Al-Awadhi as Chairman of the Regional Committee for Africa and the Middle East, unanimously among the members, reflects the confidence of the regional and international regulatory authorities in his leadership of the committee, and in the advanced regulatory framework of the UAE. This achievement comes in light of the increasing challenges witnessed by the region, and as the UAE continues to maintain the stability and efficiency of its markets, and this assignment confirms the pivotal role that the state plays in strengthening cooperation and coordination efforts and consolidating confidence in the markets on District level.

In the next phase, in light of geopolitical transformations and market developments, the committee will continue to work on launching new initiatives that support the growth of capital markets and enhance their ability to deal with emerging risks, in addition to advancing innovation paths in the areas of digital assets and market structures. It will also contribute to supporting the development of markets in emerging economies, enhancing investor awareness programs, and adopting an advanced approach in the areas of sustainable finance and capacity building in member states.

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