Middle East Regulatory Policy Brief

This episode delivers an in-depth look at recent regulatory initiatives across the Middle East, highlighting key sectors such as Standard-Setting, Anti-dumping, Investment Fund, Capital Market Authority, and Consultation. Listeners will gain insights into the Saudi Capital Market Authority’s approval of the Al Rajhi MSCI Saudi Equity Exchange-Traded Fund, designed to expand investment opportunitie...

This episode covers critical regulatory updates affecting key sectors such as Contracting, Virtual Asset Platform Operators, Licensing, Media Production, and Procurement in the Middle East. Listeners will learn about the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority's newly introduced Virtual Assets Framework, which sets licensing requirements and anti-financial crime measures for platform operators an...

This episode covers significant regulatory developments across the Middle East and beyond, focusing on healthcare guidelines, financial compliance, and international sanctions. The Abu Dhabi Department of Health mandates all healthcare facilities to complete the Training Programme on Abu Dhabi Healthcare Guidelines for Health Media and Advertising System, ensuring compliance with circular 26/2023....

This podcast episode provides an in-depth overview of recent regulatory developments across the Middle East financial and compliance landscape, focusing on key sectors such as Capital Markets, Iran-related issues, public consultations, and the Al Rajhi GCC Equity Income Fund. Among the highlights, the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has officially approved the public offering of the Al Rajhi...

This episode covers key regulatory developments impacting the Middle East’s Hajj 1447H season, cybersecurity enhancements, national readiness, artificial intelligence governance, and capital market oversight. The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) released a comprehensive Supervisory Toolkit targeting AI systems in capital markets. This toolkit addresses the AI lifecycle,...

This week's Middle East RegWatch   Covers five developments across sanctions enforcement, cybersecurity, and global health regulation A week dominated by OFAC action against Iranian petroleum networks. OFAC reached a $275 million settlement with Adani Enterprises Limited resolving 32 apparent violations involving liquefied petroleum gas shipments linked to Iran processed through US financial insti...

This episode delves into critical regulatory developments affecting multiple sectors including the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, EU Advisory Mission, sanctions evasion, aircraft leasing, and meningococcal vaccine programs. Key updates include the UAE’s introduction of shadow billing data submissions for outpatient classification, enhancing healthcare data transparency and compliance ahead of...

This episode covers pivotal regulatory developments impacting Public Consultation, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Mercosur-European Union Agreement, and Foreign Trade sectors in the Middle East. Key updates include Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority launching a public consultation on cybersecurity controls for national events, aiming to enhance governance and resilience against cyber risks...

This episode highlights significant regulatory updates across key sectors including Governance, Awareness Campaigns, Cybersecurity, Threat Monitoring, and Consultation in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, the National Cybersecurity Authority is actively implementing the Cybersecurity Enhancement Program focused on protecting critical infrastructure during the Hajj Season 1447 Hijri. This program f...

This episode covers significant regulatory developments impacting Articles of Association amendments, Public Joint Stock Companies, and financial communication standards in the Middle East, with relevant implications for Ukraine. The UAE Securities and Commodities Authority has introduced streamlined approvals for amendments to Articles of Association of Public Joint Stock Companies, enhancing sha...

This episode covers significant regulatory developments across multiple sectors in the Middle East, including financial infrastructure, healthcare compliance, and property management. Listeners will gain insights into new frameworks shaping virtual asset activities, currency symbol mandates, and occupational health enhancements. We explore the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority’s introductio...

This episode covers critical regulatory developments in Supplementary Deferrals, Healthcare, Guideline implementation, Sustainability Reporting, and Medical Devices across the Middle East. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) released key conclusions from its February 2026 Board of Supervisors meeting, adopting updated European Sustainability Reporting Standards and introducing sup...

This episode covers vital regulatory updates impacting Disaster Risk Management, Repo Facility implementations, Saudi Central Bank licensing, and Monetary Policy adjustments in the Middle East. It highlights measures ensuring healthcare supply continuity, financial sector resilience, and payment service authorization. In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Health has mandated licensed healthcare entities...

This episode covers critical regulatory developments impacting the Middle East's banking and healthcare sectors, alongside international legal frameworks. Key topics include financial institution resilience, enhanced pharmaceutical warehouse inspections, and updated standards for deceased organ donation. The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has approved a comprehensive resilience package b...

This episode covers significant regulatory updates impacting the Healthcare and Financial sectors in the Middle East, including new mandates on medical procedures, device safety, and service standards. Key highlights include the UAE Department of Health's introduction of mandatory consultations and strengthened governance for cesarean sections, requiring documented informed consent, standardized c...

In this episode, we cover pivotal regulatory updates affecting the Middle East financial sector, including innovations in supervisory examination techniques, the introduction of the UAE Dirham currency symbol, newly licensed finance companies in Saudi Arabia, and the geopolitical impact of UN Security Council Resolution 2817. The UAE Central Bank has mandated the use of a new UAE Dirham currency s...

This episode delves into vital regulatory developments affecting geopolitical risk, scam and fraud prevention, tariff elimination, and governance across the Middle East financial and trade sectors. The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has updated its AML and Glossary Modules, aligning with UAE federal laws, and issued critical warnings about impersonation scams targeting regulated firms....

This episode delves into significant regulatory developments impacting the Middle East financial markets, including innovations in direct listing processes, enhanced data protection measures, and new sanctions targeting financial fraud. Key highlights include the Saudi CMA’s approval for the public offering of the Dinar US Equity Fund, signaling compliance with Capital Market Law while advising in...

This episode covers regulatory updates in Vulnerability, GCC, Capital Market Authority, Ramadan, Cash Center Management. The Kingdom of Bahrain recently hosted the 86th GCC Central Bank Governors meeting, focusing on fintech innovation, cybersecurity, and anti-money laundering collaboration. Saudi Arabia's Central Bank (SAMA) opened a public consultation on draft rules regulating cash center manag...

Welcome to Carver's Middle East Regulatory Updates. This episode highlights robust investor demand for Bahrain’s Sukuk Al-Salam and Government Development Bond issues, reflecting strong confidence in Bahrain’s financial instruments. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Central Bank has increased the countercyclical capital buffer to bolster banking sector resilience. On the cybersecurity front, we discuss cr...

Welcome to this edition of Carver's Middle East Regulatory Updates. We begin with financial and regulatory developments including the Saudi Central Bank's directive for exchange offices to operate at full capacity during Ramadan and Hajj seasons, ensuring operational efficiency and security at key pilgrimage locations. In capital markets news, the Capital Market Authority has approved a capital in...

Welcome to Carver's Middle East Regulatory Updates. In this episode, we discuss significant institutional moves such as the Capital Market Authority's approval of a capital increase for Asas Makeen Real Estate Development, raising capital from 100 million to 300 million Saudi Riyals by issuing bonus shares. The Central Bank of Bahrain reported a highly oversubscribed treasury bills issuance worth...