The Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) continued to advance its regulatory agenda in the third quarter of 2026, with developments spanning prudential reform, conduct standards, fund regulation, and a series of alerts on impersonation scams, alongside updates from the Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC”).
Key highlights include the entry into force of the prudential amendments under Consultation Paper No. 161, introducing the Activity Based Capital Requirement and the re-categorisation of firms. The DFSA’s Principles for Authorised Individuals have also been renamed the Conduct Principles, now extending to relevant employees and adding a new independent disclosure obligation. Consultation Paper No. 173 proposes significant updates to the Collective Investment Fund framework, including abolishing the External Fund Manager regime, while Consultation Paper No. 174 has resulted in confirmed changes for credit rating agencies and prudential reporting. The DIFC has also enacted the Prescribed Company Regulations 2026, requiring non-exempt Prescribed Companies to appoint a Corporate Service Provider.
