Dubai Financial Services Authority: latest updates.

New rules, circulars, consultations and notices from UAE regulators, each summarised with who is affected and what to do. Collected by Arakan Lexara from the regulators' own websites.

Arakan Lexara Weekly

The week's changes, what they mean and the deadlines ahead. Every Monday, free.

14 Oct 2025Rule AmendmentHigh impact
Notice of Amendments to Legislation: October 2025 (PIB – Operational Risk Capital, CP164)
Following CP164, DFSA finalised amendments to the PIB Module implementing the revised Basel III standardised approach for operational risk capital requirements, effective 1 July 2026 (later referenced as effective 1 Jan 2026 in some secondary sources; DFSA's own notice states 1 July 2026).
14 Oct 2025Regulatory NoticeMedium impact
Dear SEO Letter: CP165 – Changes to the DFSA's Approach to Licensed Functions and Authorised Individuals
Follow-up Dear SEO letter on CP165 advising firms to continue meeting current Licensed Function/Authorised Individual requirements pending formal rulebook changes (subsequently enacted for 1 July 2026), covering anticipated changes to appointment, fitness and propriety processes.
1 Oct 2025Consultation PaperHigh impact
Consultation Paper No 168 – Enhancements to the Regulation of Crypto Tokens
CP168 proposed shifting from a DFSA-maintained list of Recognised Crypto Tokens to a firm-led suitability assessment model, requiring firms to independently and continuously assess whether each crypto token is suitable for its intended use. This became the basis for rule amendments finalised in December 2025.

Updates are found automatically on regulators' websites and summarised by AI. Check the official source before relying on any item.

Past weekly briefings

16 Sept 2025GuidanceMedium impact

High-Growth Firms Thematic Review

Two-phase thematic review (data analysis plus on-site assessment of 16 firms) found gaps in compliance resourcing, governance and MI systems keeping pace with rapid growth. Firms are expected to update regulatory business plans and notify DFSA of material strategy changes. Date sourced from secondary reporting.

10 Sept 2025Press ReleaseLow impact

DFSA and Hong Kong SFC sign Memorandum of Understanding on cross-border fund manager cooperation

DFSA signed an MoU with the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission enhancing regulatory cooperation for collective investment scheme managers operating cross-border between DIFC and Hong Kong. Informational for firms with cross-border fund operations; exact date sourced from secondary reporting.

9 Sept 2025GuidanceMedium impact

Self-Custody Arrangements Thematic Review (Domestic Funds)

Thematic review of 23 fund managers/46 domestic funds using self-custody found gaps in liquidity risk controls, unitholder disclosure and oversight; DFSA expects fund managers to review self-custody policies and disclosures. Date sourced from secondary reporting (Waystone Compliance monthly update); original DFSA report page not independently located.

Dubai Financial Services Authority: latest updates.

Notice of Amendments to Legislation: October 2025 (PIB – Operational Risk Capital, CP164)

Dear SEO Letter: CP165 – Changes to the DFSA's Approach to Licensed Functions and Authorised Individuals

Consultation Paper No 168 – Enhancements to the Regulation of Crypto Tokens

High-Growth Firms Thematic Review

DFSA and Hong Kong SFC sign Memorandum of Understanding on cross-border fund manager cooperation

Self-Custody Arrangements Thematic Review (Domestic Funds)