Abu Dhabi:The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has issued licenses to 68 new companies during the first nine months of 2026, with over 30 additional licensing applications currently under review.
According to Wam, Waleed Al Awadhi, CEO of the CMA, stated that the authority is focused on enhancing the regulatory environment to support the growth of financial activities while maintaining robust standards for licensing, financial solvency, corporate governance, and investor protection.
The CMA has increased international regulatory engagement as part of its licensing process, sending over 250 fit-and-proper requests to regulators in international jurisdictions during the same period. This initiative is part of the CMA's efforts to uphold high regulatory standards. The total number of licensed companies rose by 43% year-on-year, with the number of accredited professionals increasing by 64%.
Al Awadhi emphasized the CMA's commitment to streamlining licensing procedures and enhancing digital services to facilitate market entry and improve efficiency. The authority is working on regulatory and development initiatives to boost the competitiveness of the UAE's capital markets, strengthen investor confidence, and support sustainable economic growth. These initiatives include establishing a regulatory framework for the Investor Protection Fund and introducing rules for identifying systemically important entities to ensure market stability.
Moreover, the CMA is collaborating with the Middle East Investor Relations Association to launch the "Emirati Investor Relations Development Programme," aiming to train over 100 Emirati professionals in investor relations. This is part of the efforts to develop national expertise and strengthen corporate governance and disclosure practices.
In 2027, the CMA plans to enhance its regulatory and supervisory capabilities, focusing on emerging technologies, including asset tokenization, and expanding investment opportunities within a transparent regulatory framework. The authority also approved the share offering of DIP Holding PLC in 2026, which announced its intention to list shares on the Dubai Financial Market.
Al Awadhi noted that total trading value on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market reached approximately AED408.2 billion during the first nine months of 2026. Foreign investors accounted for 49% of the total trading value, indicating their active participation in local markets. The CMA aims to foster a transparent and efficient investment environment to attract long-term capital.
The number of domestic investment funds increased by 94% year-on-year to 97, with assets under management rising by 30% to AED28.6 billion. The CMA is also advancing new regulatory initiatives, such as rules governing the transfer of registration of public joint-stock companies from free zones to the mainland, and enhancing licensing procedures for international financial institutions.
Al Awadhi concluded that the CMA's goal is to develop capital markets that offer diverse investment opportunities under a robust regulatory framework, providing investors with the confidence and clarity needed for long-term investment decisions.
