Loading...

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.

Federal Tax Authority4 Aug 2026FTA DecisionMedium impact
FTA Decision No. 12 of 2026 on Registration and Deregistration Timelines (Corporate Tax)
Updates the prescribed timelines within which Taxable Persons must register and, where applicable, deregister for Corporate Tax, refining the framework first set out in Public Clarification CTP001. Issued 16 July 2026; published 4 August 2026.
Ministry of Economy — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision4 Aug 2026Press ReleaseLow impact
Ministry of Economy and Tourism Organizes a Workshop to Enhance Electronic Connectivity Between National Economic Registry 'Growth' and Licensing Authorities
MOET convened licensing authorities (economic development departments and free zones) to improve electronic data connectivity with the National Economic Registry ('Growth'), the federal system underpinning trade-license issuance and company data-sharing across emirates. Relevant to regulated businesses' license renewal and registry-data accuracy obligations, though no new binding rule was announced in this release.
Federal Tax Authority

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

Past weekly briefings

3 Aug 2026

News Announcement

Medium impact

FTA Confirms Taxable Persons Eligible for the Small Business Relief Must Submit Simplified Corporate Tax Returns Within Prescribed Legal Deadline

FTA reminds Small Business Relief-eligible taxable persons (resident entities with revenue not exceeding AED 3 million) that they are still required to file a simplified Corporate Tax return by the legal deadline (30 September 2026 for FY2025 year-ends) and maintain records, even though no tax is due, to avoid late-filing penalties.

ADGM Registration Authority31 Jul 2026Press ReleaseLow impact

Registration Authority Activates Broker Classification Framework for Real Estate Brokers

The Registration Authority activated a Broker Classification Framework rating real estate brokers on transaction volume, professional development and customer satisfaction, intended to raise professionalism and transparency in ADGM's real estate market. Real estate brokerage firms operating in ADGM should engage with the RA's classification process.

Ministry of Economy — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision29 Jul 2026Press ReleaseLow impact

Economic Integration Committee Reviews Measures to Strengthen Corporate Governance and UAE's Anti-Money Laundering Legislative Framework

The Economic Integration Committee, chaired by Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, reviewed ongoing strengthening of the UAE's AML/CFT legislative framework and corporate-governance initiatives, including an 'AI-powered regulatory ecosystem' for economic legislation and finance-lease regulation for non-Central-Bank-regulated entities. Signals continued regulatory tightening ahead but this specific announcement introduced no new binding instrument.

Financial Services Regulatory Authority — ADGM27 Jul 2026Consultation PaperHigh impactConsultation open

Proposed Regulatory Framework for Transfer Schemes

The FSRA proposed a new Chapter 8A of the General Rulebook (GEN) establishing a proportionate framework for transfer schemes (transfers of business within ADGM), retaining mandatory court approval for insurance-business transfers while introducing lighter-touch requirements for other business transfers. Firms considering a portfolio or business transfer should review the proposed regime before the consultation closes.

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority24 Jul 2026Enforcement NoticeMedium impact

VARA Notice of Fines - Shelbit General Trading L.L.C

VARA imposed a fine on Shelbit General Trading L.L.C. for providing unlicensed virtual-asset services in Dubai.

DIFC Registrar of Companies24 Jul 2026Law AmendmentHigh impact

DIFC Enacts Amendments to the Real Property Law and Regulations

DIFC enacted the amendments to the Real Property Law and Regulations proposed in Consultation Paper No. 3 of 2025, introducing decennial liability for construction defects, extended lease-registration and freehold transfer-fee deadlines, and new unregistered-lease penalties. This was announced jointly with the Prescribed Company Regulations enactment; the exact DIFC press-release date is a best estimate (24 July 2026) based on secondary legal commentary, as the DIFC source page could not be directly fetched in this research pass — verify against DIFC's own Legal Database before relying on this date.

DIFC Registrar of Companies24 Jul 2026Regulations AmendmentHigh impact

DIFC Enacts Amendments to the Prescribed Company Regulations

Following the April-June 2026 consultation (Consultation Paper No. 1 of 2026), DIFC enacted amendments broadening access to the Prescribed Company regime and mandating Corporate Service Provider appointment for most Prescribed Companies. Existing Prescribed Companies without a CSP have a transition window to appoint one or confirm Exempt PC status. This enactment was announced by DIFC in a release jointly covering Real Property Law amendments; the precise DIFC press-release date is a best estimate (24 July 2026) drawn from secondary legal commentary, as the DIFC source page itself could not be directly fetched in this research pass.

ADGM Registration Authority23 Jul 2026Regulations AmendmentMedium impact

Commercial Permits Framework — New Sales and Promotions Guidance and Regulations

The Registration Authority finalised updates to the Commercial Permits framework (following Consultation Paper No. 11 of 2025), introducing streamlined rules and new guidance covering temporary discounts, clearance sales, prize campaigns, product launches and promotional stands, aimed at improving regulatory clarity and consumer protection.

Financial Services Regulatory Authority — ADGM23 Jul 2026News AnnouncementMedium impact

Tether's XAU₮ Recognised as Accepted Spot Commodity in ADGM

The FSRA recognised Tether's gold-backed token XAU₮ as an accepted spot commodity within ADGM's regulatory framework, a notable precedent for how commodity-backed digital tokens are treated under the Market Rulebook. Firms trading or custodying commodity-backed tokens should note this classification precedent.

Federal Tax Authority22 Jul 2026Ministerial DecisionMedium impact

Ministerial Decision No. 64 of 2025 (as Amended) on Eligibility and Accreditation of E-Invoicing Service Providers

Republishes/amends the Accredited Service Provider eligibility, accreditation, ongoing evaluation and termination framework for the e-invoicing system, including two-year renewable accreditation periods. Amendment issued 29 April 2026; published 22 July 2026.

Federal Tax Authority22 Jul 2026Guide UpdateMedium impact

FTA Directives on Tax Transactions Nos. 1 to 5 of 2026

Five technical directives clarifying the VAT treatment of specific transaction types: judicial expert services, VAT group adjustments, digital currency conversion, life insurance fees, and deemed supply valuations. Issued between 10 and 22 July 2026.

Dubai Financial Services Authority15 Jul 2026Enforcement NoticeMedium impact

DFSA Awarded Legal Costs in Al Ramz Tribunal Proceedings

The Financial Markets Tribunal upheld DFSA's original USD 25,000 fine against Al Ramz Capital LLC and, in a first for DFSA, awarded the DFSA approximately USD 143,000 in legal costs after finding the firm acted unreasonably in prolonging its challenge — a precedent that firms unreasonably contesting DFSA decisions before the FMT may now face cost awards against them.

Federal Tax Authority14 Jul 2026FTA DecisionMedium impact

FTA Decision No. 6 of 2026 on Additional Procedures for Qualifying Free Zone Person Compliance

Sets additional procedural requirements Qualifying Free Zone Persons must follow to demonstrate and maintain compliance with the 0% Corporate Tax rate conditions. Issued 2 June 2026; published 14 July 2026.

Federal Tax Authority9 Jul 2026FTA DecisionLow impact

FTA Decision No. 2 of 2018 (as Amended) on the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme

Updates the rules governing the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme (the digital tourist VAT refund system), which the FTA separately reported had grown to over 19,300 connected retail outlets by August 2026. Amendment issued 1 July 2026; published 9 July 2026.

Dubai Financial Services Authority9 Jul 2026Consultation PaperMedium impactConsultation open

Consultation Paper No 174 – Miscellaneous Changes

CP174 proposes miscellaneous rulebook changes including revised Investment Token and Crypto Token definitions, elimination of Credit Rating Agency fee/charge disclosure requirements, and streamlined reporting requirements.

Dubai Financial Services Authority9 Jul 2026GuidanceMedium impact

9th Audit Monitoring Report – Setting the Standard in Audit Quality within DIFC

DFSA's ninth audit monitoring report (covering Jan 2024-Dec 2025, 26 audit firms, 93 engagement files) found improved audit quality overall; flagged five priority areas (opinion rationale, investment valuation, related-party assessment, revenue recognition testing, continuous risk evaluation) and signalled upcoming inspection focus on QMS, AI use in audits, and governance/culture. Relevant to DIFC-registered auditors and the firms they audit.

Dubai Financial Services Authority7 Jul 2026Regulatory NoticeHigh impactConsultation open

Notice of Consultation Paper Release: CP 173

Formal DFSA notice announcing release of CP173 (Collective Investment Funds framework overhaul) for public consultation, with comments due 7 September 2026.

Dubai Financial Services Authority7 Jul 2026Consultation PaperHigh impactConsultation open

Consultation Paper No 173 – Proposals to Enhance the DFSA's Collective Investment Funds Framework

DFSA's most substantial funds-framework review since 2010: proposes risk-based fund classifications replacing rigid private fund categories, clarifies dealing/arranging as integral to investment management licences, removes the external fund manager regime, updates master-feeder eligibility, expands employee investment options, and seeks preliminary views on tokenised fund units and a retail long-term investment fund regime. Affects CIR, GEN, GLO, FER, IFR and MKT modules.

Dubai Financial Services Authority2 Jul 2026Rule AmendmentMedium impact

Notice of Amendments to Legislation: July 2026 (CP171 – PIB/COB Miscellaneous Changes)

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

Dubai Financial Services Authority2 Jul 2026News AnnouncementLow impact

DFSA confirms admission of UAE's inaugural Sovereign Retail Treasury Sukuk listing on Nasdaq Dubai

DFSA approved the UAE's first sovereign retail sukuk for listing/trading on Nasdaq Dubai, the first government-issued sukuk targeted at individual (not just institutional) investors on the DIFC exchange, expanding capital markets access.

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority2 Jul 2026Press ReleaseLow impact

VARA Issues 50th VASP Licence as Dubai's Regulated Virtual Assets Market Continues to Grow

VARA announced it had issued its 50th Virtual Asset Service Provider licence, to Tribe Tokenisation FZE, marking continued growth of Dubai's regulated virtual-asset market since VARA's 2022 establishment. This milestone announcement was carried via Reuters/Zawya wire reporting citing VARA rather than found as a standalone post on VARA's own news index at the time of research, so treat the exact wording as secondary-sourced.

Dubai Financial Services Authority30 Jun 2026Regulatory NoticeMedium impact

Dear SEO Letter: Cyber Risk Self-Assessment 2026

DFSA launched its 2026 Cyber Risk Self-Assessment survey via the ePortal, referencing General Module Rule 5.5 cybersecurity requirements, with a submission deadline of 24 July 2026.

Dubai Financial Services Authority29 Jun 2026GuidanceMedium impact

Conduct Supervisory Pulse: Personal Account Dealing

DFSA's first Conduct Supervisory Pulse examined Personal Account Dealing practices at DIFC brokerage firms, flagging over-reliance on employee self-declarations and insufficient post-trade monitoring; firms should self-assess PAD arrangements against the six evaluation areas identified. Precedes further pulses on best execution and record-keeping.

Dubai Financial Services Authority26 Jun 2026Press ReleaseLow impact

DFSA Annual Report 2025 published

DFSA published its Annual Report 2025, highlighting sector growth of 182 newly licensed firms and 1,050 total regulated entities in the DIFC. Informational; date sourced from secondary reporting.

Central Bank of the UAE24 Jun 2026Enforcement NoticeMedium impact

CBUAE fines a foreign bank branch AED 20 million and its head of compliance AED 300,000 for AML/CFT failures

CBUAE imposed a AED 20 million financial sanction on an unnamed foreign bank branch operating in the UAE for 'significant, repeated failures' in its AML/CFT framework, and separately fined the branch's head of compliance AED 300,000 for failing to fulfil his AML oversight responsibilities. This signals CBUAE's continued individual-accountability enforcement approach for MLRO/compliance officers, not just institutions.

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority24 Jun 2026Enforcement NoticeMedium impact