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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.

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.
Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority

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

Past weekly briefings

9 Apr 2026

Guidance

High 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.

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 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 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 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.

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority5 Mar 2026Enforcement NoticeMedium impact

VARA Investor and Marketplace Alert - MEXC Estonia OU and MEXC Global LTD (commercially advertising as MEXC)

VARA warned the public that MEXC-branded entities are not licensed to offer virtual-asset services in Dubai; this alert preceded a formal fine against MX Global LTD in June 2026.

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.

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.

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 Authority4 Mar 2026Administrative NoticeHigh impact

Implementation of the UAE Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Financing and Proliferation Financing Requirements Applicable to VASPs

VARA circulated implementation instructions translating the UAE's federal AML/CTF/PF legal requirements into specific obligations for licensed VASPs, consolidating earlier sanctions and risk-assessment guidance into a single implementation circular.

Federal Tax Authority3 Mar 2026Guide UpdateHigh impact

Ministry of Finance Issues Detailed Electronic Invoicing Implementation Guidelines

MOF publishes further implementation guidance confirming the Tax Identification Number as the e-invoicing participant identifier, a 24-month grace period from 1 January 2027 for VAT-grouped intercompany transactions, six defined electronic invoice categories, and line-level VAT/tax-category-code requirements across eight specific transaction scenarios (e.g. free zone dealings, deemed supplies, margin scheme, e-commerce).

Dubai Financial Services Authority1 Mar 2026Regulatory NoticeHigh impact

Dear SEO Letter: Regional Uncertainties

DFSA set out supervisory expectations regarding heightened Middle East regional uncertainty, directing firms to assess business continuity arrangements and manage elevated liquidity, credit, market, operational and cyber risk.

Dubai Financial Services Authority26 Feb 2026Rule AmendmentHigh impact

Notice of Amendments to Legislation: February 2026 (AML/GLO – Federal AML Alignment)

DFSA amended the AML and GLO modules to align with Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, introducing updated proliferation-financing terminology and expanded customer due diligence and beneficial ownership requirements for natural persons and body corporates.

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority24 Feb 2026Administrative NoticeHigh impact

Implementation of the UAE Virtual Assets Travel Rule Requirements

VARA circulated implementation requirements for the UAE Virtual Assets 'Travel Rule', directing VASPs to collect and transmit originator/beneficiary information on virtual-asset transfers in line with FATF Recommendation 16, superseding prior travel-rule provisions in the rulebook (previously versioned 19 May 2025).

Federal Tax Authority23 Feb 2026Guide UpdateHigh impact

FTA Technical Guidance on Mandatory Electronic Invoicing Data Fields (Data Dictionary)

FTA publishes a detailed technical data dictionary specifying the 51 mandatory fields for electronic tax invoices and the adapted field set for commercial e-invoices, adopting the Peppol PINT AE (UAE) specification, TIN-based seller identifiers, and XML structure requirements ahead of the July 2026 voluntary pilot.

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority19 Feb 2026Administrative NoticeLow impact

VARA Consumer and Marketplace Alert - Update on the Real Estate Tokenisation Pilot

VARA published an update on its Real Estate Tokenisation pilot programme, clarifying the pilot's regulatory status and permitted participants following earlier 2025 alerts about misrepresentation of tokenised real-estate products by unauthorised parties.

Central Bank of the UAE19 Feb 2026New Regulation/StandardMedium impact

Telemarketing Regulation

CBUAE's first dedicated telemarketing rulebook for banks, insurers, reinsurers and other licensed financial institutions, requiring board approval before telemarketing, at least 15 hours of telemarketer training, prior express consent capturing customer channel/language/product preferences, Do-Not-Call Registry (DNCR) compliance, call-timing limits (9am-6pm, max once daily/twice weekly per customer), mandatory call-opening disclosures, five-year record retention and annual reporting to CBUAE. Institutions were given a 90-day implementation window from the effective date.

Central Bank of the UAE17 Feb 2026New Regulation/StandardHigh impact

Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) - Customer Protection Regulation

This regulation replaces the 2021 SME Market Conduct Regulation and introduces a Key Facts Statement requirement, bilingual plain-language disclosure, a 3-business-day account-opening timeline for low-risk SMEs, affordability assessments, enhanced complaint handling with access to the Sanadak ombudsman, and Board-level accountability for SME customer protection. Banks and finance companies have roughly a six-month runway from publication to the 13 September 2026 effective date.

Dubai Financial Services Authority12 Feb 2026GuidanceMedium impact

Crypto Token FAQs

DFSA published FAQ guidance clarifying application of the revised crypto token rules, covering authorisation requirements, firm-led suitability assessments, fiat crypto tokens, and funds investing in crypto tokens. Complements a 12 February 2026 webinar for Finance Officers.

DIFC Registrar of Companies9 Feb 2026Regulations AmendmentMedium impact

Variable Capital Company Regulations 2026

DIFC enacted new Variable Capital Company (VCC) Regulations, establishing the UAE's first open-ended umbrella fund vehicle with legally segregated sub-funds/portfolios, following a 2025 public consultation (initial draft consulted on 2 July - 24 July 2025). Fund managers and family offices can now use the VCC structure for open-ended investment vehicles, subject to new registration, governance and asset-segregation requirements.