CEO of the Capital Market Authority: The UAE is an active partner in shaping the future of global financial regulation

ABU DHABI, 6 April / WAM / His Excellency Waleed Al Awadhi, CEO of the Capital Market Authority, confirmed that the UAE is considered an active partner in shaping the future of global financial regulation, based on an advanced model that combines the flexibility of legislation, the efficiency of supervisory frameworks, and a proactive ability to keep pace with the rapid transformations in the markets.

Al-Awadi revealed, in statements to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, that the year 2026 will witness new regulatory developments that include specific securities trading platforms and the regulation of collective investment, which will enhance the diversity of investment tools and provide broader options for investors.

He pointed to working to establish governance frameworks for the uses of artificial intelligence in the financial sector, and developing mechanisms to receive reports from the public, including rewards programs, in a way that enhances the investor’s role in supporting market integrity.

Regarding his unanimous re-election for the period 2026-2028 as Chairman of the Regional Committee for Africa and the Middle East of the International Organization of Securities Commissions, he stressed that this reflects firm confidence in the UAE and that it is an active partner in shaping the global financial scene, its trends, and determining its future features.

He added that this consensus represents a qualitative achievement that embodies the growing international presence of Emirati competencies, and comes as a culmination of an integrated institutional path that has established the country’s pivotal role in developing the global financial sector. He pointed out that the presidency of the committee provides a strategic dimension that goes beyond the regional framework, and in essence reflects the integration of legislation that has contributed to consolidating the UAE’s position among the most important global financial centers.

He explained that the continued development of the financial markets locally reflects directly on the country’s regional and international roles, and enhances its ability to contribute to the formulation of global regulatory frameworks, especially in light of the unprecedented challenges that the world is witnessing, including economic fluctuations, geopolitical changes, and rapid digital transformations, which consolidates the UAE’s position as a global destination for financing and investment and an essential partner in enhancing financial stability.

Al-Awadhi pointed out that the Middle East and African markets are witnessing a qualitative transformation from being developing markets to markets that impose their presence in global regulatory dialogues, driven by the development of regulatory frameworks and the acceleration of the adoption of financial technologies, in addition to their increasing role in financing sectors of the real economy.

He stressed that these markets are likely to play a greater role during the next stage, especially in the areas of financial technology, digital assets, and the development of market structures, which are areas that are no longer limited to advanced economies, pointing out that the diversity of challenges that these markets face gives them practical experiences that enhance their contribution to the formulation of global policies.

Regarding regulatory challenges, he explained that emerging markets are facing rapid transformations linked to new technologies and changing investor behavior, which requires managing this transformation in a balanced way that allows the absorption of innovation without affecting the stability of markets or investor confidence, especially in the areas of digital assets and financial technologies.

He added that economic and geopolitical changes add an additional dimension to these challenges, in light of the interconnectedness of global markets, noting that the regional committee is working to deal with these issues by exchanging experiences and building a common understanding that contributes to developing more realistic and applicable regulatory responses in different environments.

Regarding the priorities of his presidency of the AMERC Committee for the period 2026-2028, Al-Awadhi explained that the focus will be on dealing with the transformations associated with the use of technology in financial markets, especially artificial intelligence and activities across digital platforms, in addition to enhancing cooperation with the providers of these platforms to reduce misleading financial content and combat fraudulent activities.

He pointed to working to develop advanced supervisory tools capable of keeping pace with the digital environment, and deepening the use of modern technologies in supervisory work, including employing artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency of supervision, in addition to raising the level of coordination between regulatory authorities in light of the overlap of cross-border risks.

He added that the committee will work to transform challenges into opportunities by contributing to the development of future legislation that supports the stability of the global financial system, pointing to the support for the committee’s participation in a working paper of the International Organization of Securities Commissions on quantum computing and coding.

Al-Awadhi stressed that the acceleration of financial innovation imposes a new reality on the markets, which makes the committee’s role more important at this stage, by building a common understanding among the regulatory authorities of developments related to financial technologies.

He pointed out that digital assets represent one of the most prominent of these transformations, which requires developing clear regulatory frameworks that include disclosure, risk management, and investor protection, in addition to adopting flexible regulatory approaches that are in line with their changing nature.

Regarding his assessment of the readiness of regional markets, he stressed that the level of readiness today is better compared to previous years, as a result of the development of regulatory frameworks and the strengthening of risk management capabilities, which enabled these markets to deal with fluctuations without major impacts on general stability.

He pointed out that the challenge is the acceleration of change in the global economy and the interconnectedness of markets, which requires higher levels of readiness and proactiveness, stressing that markets that have a clear regulatory structure and strong institutions remain the most capable of confronting these changes.

Al-Awadhi explained that the UAE deals with changes with confidence and institutional readiness, supported by advanced infrastructure, proactive planning and international partnerships, which is reflected in the markets’ ability to continue efficiently even in periods of volatility.

He added that regulatory flexibility in the country is linked to the ability of concerned authorities to adapt to changes without disrupting market stability, through developing legislation and adopting advanced practices in risk management and business continuity, ensuring the preservation of investor confidence and the sustainability of economic activity.

He stressed that the Capital Market Authority will focus during the year 2026 on consolidating the UAE’s position as an advanced model in regulating financial markets, through a balanced environment that combines efficiency, transparency, and investor protection, and enhances the market’s attractiveness for capital.

He pointed out that the priority is to strengthen capital markets and push them towards more sustainable growth, in addition to dealing with new risks associated with technology and the development of financial products, while continuing to develop regulatory frameworks according to a proactive approach.

He added that the Authority is working to transform current challenges into opportunities by proposing future legislation, and continuing to contribute to regulatory initiatives related to emerging technologies, especially in the field of asset tokenization, in addition to regulating financial content on digital platforms in a way that reflects the nature of new challenges.

Regarding the attractiveness of the UAE market, he stressed that this is linked to the clarity of the investment environment and the ease of procedures, which the Authority is working to enhance by simplifying paths and providing greater flexibility for investors to enter.

He explained that the asset management sector is witnessing remarkable growth, after the number of local investment funds increased to 88 funds, compared to 46 funds at the end of 2024, which reflects the development of the investment environment and the increased interest of asset managers in the UAE market.

He pointed out that openness to global markets represents a fundamental axis, through mutual recognition agreements with Hong Kong, in addition to the imminent activation of the inter-registration mechanism for investment funds between the GCC countries, which contributes to facilitating the movement of funds and enhancing investment flows.

Al-Awadhi stressed that regulating financial content on digital platforms is one of the factors influencing investors’ decisions, to ensure the accuracy and transparency of information, which enhances the investor experience and consolidates the UAE’s position as an attractive destination for capital in a competitive global environment.

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