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Regulatory updates

Every UAE regulatory change, as it happens.

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.

Financial Services Regulatory Authority — ADGM30 Apr 2026Consultation PaperHigh impact
Proposed Enhancements to the Anti-Money Laundering Framework of the FSRA
The FSRA proposed enhancements to its AML/CFT, counter-proliferation financing and sanctions framework to align with updated federal laws and FATF recommendations. These proposals were finalised in May 2026 (see FSRA-2026-002).
Federal Tax Authority29 Apr 2026Public ClarificationMedium impact
CTP010 – Clarification of the Terms "Director" and "Officer" under Article 36 of the Corporate Tax Law
Clarifies who qualifies as a 'Director' or 'Officer' for Connected Persons purposes under Article 36 — based on actual decision-making authority rather than job title — affecting remuneration deductibility (AED 500,000 disclosure threshold), disclosure obligations and transfer pricing documentation.
Dubai Financial Services Authority23 Apr 2026Regulatory NoticeMedium impact

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

Past weekly briefings

Dear Finance Officer Letter: Q4 2025 EPRS Return Corrections

DFSA notified Finance Officers that Q4 2025 EPRS prudential returns contained errors and required corrections to be reflected in Q1 2026 submissions. Date sourced from secondary reporting.

Ministry of Economy — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision20 Apr 2026Cabinet DecisionMedium impact

Cabinet Decision No. (59) of 2026 on the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. (36) of 2023 Regulating Competition

Long-anticipated executive regulations for the Competition Law, replacing 2012-era rules, take effect 30 July 2026. They tighten merger-filing formalities (proof of fee payment, original-language documents), set formal 10+90 working-day merger review timelines, clarify dominant-position assessment criteria, and introduce a 15-working-day third-party objection window. Relevant to any MOET-regulated business undertaking M&A, joint ventures, or holding a dominant market position in the UAE.

Ministry of Economy — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision20 Apr 2026GuidanceMedium impact

Supplemental Guidance for Trust and Company Service Providers (TCSP) — 2026 Edition

Updated sector-specific AML/CFT/CPF guidance for trust and company service providers covering customer due diligence, beneficial ownership verification, ongoing monitoring and suspicious activity reporting obligations specific to entity-formation and administration services. Exact day within April 2026 is estimated from the document's stated version date.

Dubai Financial Services Authority16 Apr 2026CircularMedium impact

Business Continuity Measures Form v3 (4/2026) Update

DFSA issued an updated Business Continuity Measures Form (v3, 4/2026) via the ePortal, required to be submitted by 22 April 2026. Date sourced from secondary reporting.

Central Bank of the UAE16 Apr 2026GuidanceMedium impact

CBUAE Updates AML/CFT/CPF Guidance for Licensed Financial Institutions (Proliferation Finance, TBML, Correspondent Banking and CDD/KYC guidance, plus two best-practice manuals)

CBUAE released an updated package of four AML/CFT/CPF guidance documents (proliferation financing, trade-based money laundering/transshipment, correspondent banking, and customer due diligence/KYC) together with two best-practice manuals on risk-based-approach methodology and role-based staff training, described by the Governor as aligning UAE supervision with FATF and international standards. Licensed institutions should refresh AML/CFT policies, CDD procedures and training programs to reflect the updated guidance.

Ministry of Economy — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision15 Apr 2026GuidanceMedium impact

Supplemental Guidance for Independent Accountants & Auditors (IAA) — 2026 Edition

Updated sector-specific AML/CFT/CPF guidance for independent accountants and auditors, developed from the 2024 National Risk Assessment and MOET's 2024 Sectoral Risk Assessment, refreshing risk-based CDD and reporting expectations for sole practitioners and firms. Exact day within April 2026 is estimated from the document's stated version date.

Central Bank of the UAE14 Apr 2026GuidanceMedium impact

CBUAE FAQs/Guidance on Article 62 — Carrying on Licensed Financial Activities through Emerging Technologies

CBUAE published FAQ-format guidance clarifying that Article 62 of Federal Decree-Law No. 6/2025 does not create new categories of regulated financial activity but ensures technology-neutral supervision across delivery channels, including Web3/decentralized systems, while confirming pure technology/infrastructure service providers are not directly regulated unless they perform licensed financial activities themselves. Entities have until 16 September 2026 (the law's one-year transition deadline) to adjust their activities/status.

Dubai Financial Services Authority10 Apr 2026CircularLow impact

Liquidity Risk Management Survey

DFSA requested firms to report on liquidity risk management considerations via a dedicated survey. Date sourced from secondary reporting.

Dubai Financial Services Authority10 Apr 2026GuidanceMedium impact

Thematic Review Findings – Fintech Compliance Arrangements

Thematic review of fintech firms found 53% operate with three or fewer compliance staff and 58% outsource compliance functions, with governance gaps identified; signals expectation of stronger internal compliance resourcing at fintech firms. Date sourced from secondary reporting.

Dubai Financial Services Authority10 Apr 2026CircularLow impact

Foreign Funds Marketing Survey (Article 54 Collective Investment Law)

DFSA surveyed firms on the marketing/selling of foreign funds under Article 54 of the Collective Investment Law. Date sourced from secondary reporting.

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority9 Apr 2026GuidanceHigh impact

Guidance on the Virtual Asset Issuance Rulebook (Asset-Referenced Virtual Assets)

VARA published non-binding guidance interpreting the Virtual Asset Issuance Rulebook for Asset-Referenced Virtual Assets (ARVAs), distinguishing direct-ownership ARVAs (no reserve requirement) from stable-value ARVAs (full reserve regime) and requiring issuers to obtain a five-part legal opinion; it also flags potential dual-regulation with the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority for tokenised securities.

Ministry of Economy — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision9 Apr 2026Ministerial DecisionMedium impact

Ministerial Decision No. (83) of 2026 Concerning the Amendment of the Restriction Period for the Transfer of Shares of a Private Joint Stock Company or Exemption Therefrom

Implements the 2025 CCL amendment reducing (and allowing exemption from) the lock-up period restricting transfer of private joint stock company shares, from the prior two years to one year, giving PJSC shareholders and investors more flexibility. Relevant to corporate service providers structuring PJSC transactions. Publication date is estimated from the PDF's document metadata timestamp and should be checked against the Official Gazette.

Dubai Financial Services Authority9 Apr 2026Regulatory NoticeHigh impact

Dear SEO Letter: Temporary Regulatory Relief Measures to Support the DIFC Community

DFSA announced a package of proportionate temporary relief measures — adjusted authorisation timelines, governance flexibility, extended reporting deadlines and postponed regulatory projects — to support DIFC firms amid regional uncertainty.

Dubai Financial Services Authority2 Apr 2026Press ReleaseLow impact

DFSA signs MoU with UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism on auditor oversight cooperation

DFSA and the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism signed an MoU to strengthen regulatory cooperation and enhance oversight of auditors operating between the DIFC and onshore UAE. Date sourced from secondary reporting.

Dubai Financial Services Authority1 Apr 2026Enforcement NoticeMedium impact

Decision Notice – Wael Abdelmohsen Abdellatif Mohamed Emara

DFSA issued a Decision Notice against an individual, Wael Abdelmohsen Abdellatif Mohamed Emara. DFSA's enforcement-actions index lists this only under the month 'April 2026' without a specific day, and the underlying PDF (with detailed findings and any penalty) was not independently accessible; exact date and substance are unconfirmed beyond the DFSA listing.

Federal Tax Authority1 Apr 2026Cabinet DecisionHigh impact

Cabinet Decision No. 215 of 2025 and Ministerial Decision No. 24 of 2026 on the Research & Development Tax Incentive

Introduces a tiered, pre-approved R&D tax credit (15%/35%/50% depending on qualifying spend and R&D headcount, capped at AED 5 million per entity per year, minimum AED 500,000 qualifying project spend) that can offset Corporate Tax or Pillar Two top-up tax, non-refundable but carried forward indefinitely, effective for tax periods from 1 January 2026 under the framework introduced by Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2025. Publication date is the date of secondary reporting; exact Official Gazette dates for both instruments were not independently confirmed — flagged.

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority31 Mar 2026Rulebook AmendmentHigh impact

Exchange Services Rulebook Version 2.1 - Virtual Asset Exchange-Traded Derivatives Regime

VARA published Version 2.1 of the Exchange Services Rulebook, establishing Dubai's first permanent regime for exchange-traded virtual asset derivatives (futures, options, CFDs, perpetuals). Retail access is permitted subject to suitability assessments, a 5:1 leverage cap and 20% minimum initial margin, asset segregation, and VARA intervention powers during market stress; VASPs are barred from proprietary derivatives trading, including through affiliates. This formalises the framework piloted with OKX in July 2025 across all licensed exchange VASPs.

Dubai Financial Services Authority27 Mar 2026Consultation PaperHigh impact

Consultation Paper No 170 – Operational Resilience

CP170 proposed a new operational resilience framework in the GEN/GLO modules, requiring firms to identify critical business services, set impact tolerances, and conduct scenario testing — a significant new prudential/operational obligation.

Dubai Financial Services Authority27 Mar 2026Regulatory NoticeHigh impact

Dear SEO Letter: Elevated Cyber Threat Levels

DFSA alerted firms to increased cyber-attacks targeting critical infrastructure, requiring vigilant monitoring, notification of material cyber incidents to DFSA within 72 hours, registration with the Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform, and validation of incident response processes.

Dubai Financial Services Authority27 Mar 2026Consultation PaperMedium impact

Consultation Paper No 171 – Miscellaneous Changes

CP171 proposed amendments to the PIB module's K-ASA/K-AUM calculation methodology (arithmetic mean of prior six months' month-end values) and removal of the COB module's trade settlement date reconciliation requirement.

Dubai Financial Services Authority26 Mar 2026Regulatory NoticeHigh impact

Dear SEO/MLRO Letter: Collective Investment Funds – Liquidity Risk Management, Redemption Pressures and Reporting

DFSA reminded fund managers of liquidity risk management obligations, including robust liquidity frameworks, realistic stress testing, and prompt notification to DFSA of material liquidity concerns amid redemption pressures.

Ministry of Economy — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision15 Mar 2026GuidanceMedium impact

Supplemental Guidance for Dealers in Precious Metals & Stones (DPMS) — 2026 Edition

MOET replaced its 2021 sector guidance for precious-metals/stones dealers with an updated version reflecting current ML/TF/PF risk factors (cash intensity, portability, cross-border trade), the AED 55,000 DPMS reporting threshold, five-year record retention, and sanctions-screening obligations. Exact publication day within March 2026 is an estimate based on the document's stated version date.

Central Bank of the UAE13 Mar 2026New Regulation/StandardHigh impact

Remuneration Regulation for Banks and Insurance Companies

Aligned with Basel Committee and FSB compensation principles, this regulation requires banks, insurers, reinsurers and UAE branches of foreign institutions to identify Material Risk Takers, defer 3-5 years of variable pay for them, embed malus/clawback provisions in contracts, and have the Board approve remuneration policy annually via a dedicated Remuneration Committee. Institutions face a gap-analysis deadline of 11 October 2026 and full compliance by 14 July 2027.

Ministry of Economy — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision11 Mar 2026CircularMedium impact

Circular No. (1) of 2026 on Updating the Lists of High-Risk Countries, Countries Subject to Increased Monitoring, and Related Measures

First 2026 update to the FATF high-risk/increased-monitoring jurisdictions list requiring DNFBPs to refresh CDD/EDD screening against the revised country lists.

Dubai Financial Services Authority11 Mar 2026Regulatory NoticeHigh impact

Dear SEO Letter: Business Continuity Measures – Regional Uncertainties

Follow-up reminder requiring all firms to complete the DFSA's Business Continuity Measures Form on the ePortal by 27 March 2026, given ongoing regional uncertainty.

Central Bank of the UAE5 Mar 2026New Regulation/StandardMedium impact

Insurance Company Licensing Regulation

A revised licensing regulation for insurance companies operating in the UAE, reflecting the consolidated supervisory framework of Federal Decree-Law No. 6/2025 and updating licensing categories, capital and fit-and-proper requirements for insurers. Publication date is a best-sourced estimate: the CBUAE Rulebook confirms circular number C 4/2026 and an effective date of 14 August 2026, but the exact issuance date was not independently verified; based on sequential circular numbering relative to C3 (19 Feb 2026) and C5 (13 Mar 2026), publication likely occurred in late February/early March 2026.

Dubai Financial Services Authority5 Mar 2026Rule AmendmentMedium impact

Notice of Amendments to Legislation: March 2026 (CP169 – AML, Fees, PIB)

DFSA finalised CP169's miscellaneous changes via the AML module (RMI 432/2026, eff. 1 Apr 2026), Fees module (RMI 433/2026, eff. 1 Apr 2026), and PIB module (RMI 434/2026, eff. 1 Jul 2026).

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority5 Mar 2026Enforcement NoticeMedium impact

VARA Investor and Marketplace Alert - Phoenixfin Pte Ltd, MEK Global Limited, Peken Global Limited, and Kucoin Exchange EU GmbH (commercially advertising as KuCoin)

VARA warned the public that entities operating under the 'KuCoin' brand are not licensed by VARA and directed them to cease soliciting Dubai-based clients; this alert preceded a formal fine against related KuCoin entities (Peken Global Limited) in June 2026.