The UAE Capital Market Authority abolished 15 fees after assessing each one against current regulatory requirements, market developments and its service model, according to a statement from the regulator. The authority determined that the selected charges had become unnecessary, leading to their complete removal as part of an effort to streamline operations. Emirates News Agency reported that the changes apply across various services and activities supervised by the authority, with full details available in a published board resolution. Licensed firms and individuals will see direct reductions in associated expenses under the updated framework.
This action forms part of the authority’s broader initiative to align its regulations, procedures and fee schedules with evolving market needs while preserving effective oversight, the Capital Market Authority stated. Officials reviewed the entire fee structure to identify opportunities for greater efficiency without compromising standards. The regulator emphasized that such adjustments help maintain a balanced approach that supports participant activity in the UAE’s capital markets.
Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, chief executive officer of the Capital Market Authority, highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to framework development in remarks carried by the Emirates News Agency. “The Authority remains committed to continuously reviewing and developing its fee framework to ensure it evolves alongside the capital markets and responds to the needs of licensed companies and individuals,” Al Awadhi said. “This review forms part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of regulatory services and reduce the burden on market participants, contributing to more resilient capital markets, a more effective business environment, and higher-quality services,” he added. The CEO’s comments underscore the authority’s focus on adaptive governance.
Market participants have been directed to consult the board resolution posted on the authority’s website for specifics on the eliminated charges and their implementation timelines, according to the announcement. The resolution outlines affected services ranging from licensing to supervisory activities. Companies and individuals alike are expected to incorporate these updates into their compliance planning immediately following the decision’s release on July 30.
The fee abolition arrives seven months after the Capital Market Authority officially replaced the Securities and Commodities Authority on January 1 under Federal Decree-Laws No. 32 and 33 of 2025, a Cleary Gottlieb legal briefing from January 2026 noted. Those laws granted the reconstituted body an expanded mandate over onshore capital markets and repealed the prior framework dating to Federal Law No. 4 of 2000. The transition included updated governance structures and competencies designed to address contemporary market dynamics, the briefing added.
Analyses from law firm Latham and Watkins indicated that the new regime emphasizes consolidated regulation and enforcement to support the UAE’s financial sector objectives. The authority assumed all prior rights and obligations of its predecessor entity upon the laws’ entry into force. This latest measure on fees reflects the continued implementation of reforms introduced at the start of the year.
