Cayman Islands: Financial Services

Following submissions by the Maples Group Regulatory and Finance teams, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”) has added the Bahamas International Securities Exchange (“BISX”) to its List of Approved Stock Exchanges, effective 20 August 2026.

Grand Cayman, 23 September 2026 - The Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce will be closed from 8:00am until 1:00pm on Friday, 25 September, for a staff function.

Walkers has advised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a US$3.25 billion dual-tranche international sukuk issuance under its Global Trust Certificate Issuance Programme. The transaction attracted an order book of approximately US$16.5 billion and marks the Kingdom's second international issuance using the Ijarah structure, following the award-winning inaugural US$5.5 billion issuance in 2025.

Cayman Islands companies and investment funds planning a year-end voluntary liquidation must navigate strict statutory timelines and regulatory requirements that begin months before December 31st. Missing critical deadlines can trigger an additional year of government fees, CIMA charges, and potentially unintended audit obligations. This guide outlines the essential planning dates, sequencing requirements for CIMA-regulated funds, and the coordination needed between deregistration and dissolution processes.

The Cayman Islands has introduced a new local nexus requirement for Common Reporting Standard compliance, mandating that Financial Institutions appoint a Principal Point of Contact with a physical presence in the Cayman Islands. With the 31 January 2027 deadline approaching and penalties of CI$10,000 for non-compliance, FIs must urgently review their current registrations and ensure their appointed contacts meet the updated territorial requirements.

The Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) occupy a leading position in the global investment funds landscape.

Eight entrepreneurs are the latest to complete development training through the Business Growth Incubator (BGI) Programme hosted by the Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development (CICBD).

Understanding the critical role of investor notices in capital call facilities involving Cayman exempted limited partnerships is essential for fund finance participants.

Any companies based in the Cayman Islands considering a year-end voluntary liquidation should start the wind-down process early to minimise stress and ensure timely completion of all required filings.