UAE Capital Market Authority Sets Out Approach to Investor Trust and Market Resilience

The UAE Capital Market Authority is placing transparency, regulatory predictability and continued engagement with market participants at the centre of its approach to developing the country’s capital markets, according to comments by CMA Chief Executive Officer Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi.

Speaking at the AFCM Annual Conference – Abu Dhabi 2026 on 29 September, Al Awadhi said the UAE’s investment environment has been supported by economic resilience, development of its legislative and regulatory framework and the country’s ability to respond to changing conditions. He said international investors have become increasingly sophisticated in assessing risks rather than treating regional geopolitical exposure as a single broad category.

For businesses and investors, the comments provide insight into how the federal capital-markets regulator views resilience. Al Awadhi described it as an ecosystem involving regulatory responses, access to reliable information, transparency and the ability of markets to continue functioning during periods of stress. He also said recent regional developments had required the regulator, working with markets, to adopt measures suited to changing market conditions.

Another focus is the balance between attracting capital and protecting investors. Al Awadhi described the CMA’s direction as that of an enabling regulator, with reforms developed through consultation with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Dubai Financial Market and market participants. Rather than treating regulatory reform as a one-time process, the authority intends it to evolve alongside financial markets and new products.

Virtual assets form part of that agenda. The CMA issued its comprehensive Virtual Assets Framework in April 2026. Al Awadhi said cooperation with industry has helped develop rules covering virtual assets, their classifications and service providers, while the authority also coordinates with regulators in the UAE’s financial free zones.

Regulatory predictability is particularly important for international capital. Al Awadhi said the CMA’s overseas regulatory roadshows include meetings with peer regulators, asset managers, companies and banks, providing greater visibility into the direction of UAE regulation. Similar consultation takes place domestically before changes are implemented.

The authority is also seeking stronger bilateral and multilateral relationships with regulators in other major markets. Such links can support cross-border capital flows and potentially encourage more international listings in the UAE.

The message for investors is that the UAE’s capital-market strategy is not based solely on attracting new money. The regulator is also emphasising market integrity, information quality and a framework capable of adapting as products and technologies evolve. That combination will be important as the country seeks to deepen its markets and broaden its role as a regional and international destination for capital.