Middle East: Finance and Banking

US regulators are establishing clearer frameworks for tokenization, moving beyond treating it as speculative crypto toward practical financial infrastructure redesign. Israeli clients need to understand how these regulatory developments will impact digital asset systems, focusing on buyer protections, compliance requirements, and operational reliability rather than simply adding token labels to existing assets.

On 31 March 2026, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (“VARA”) published Part V of the Exchange Services Rulebook, formally codifying the regulatory framework for Exchange Traded Derivative (“ETD”) Services.

The publication in the Official Gazette of the UAE on January 1, 2026, brought into effect significant changes to the regulatory landscape in the UAE.

Qatar's Central Bank has launched a temporary loan deferral initiative allowing borrowers to postpone loan instalments and interest payments for up to three months in response to regional geopolitical developments.

The Capital Market Authority of the United Arab Emirates has introduced a comprehensive new licensing regime for Virtual Asset Service Providers, establishing eight distinct regulated activities with risk-based capital requirements and enhanced governance standards. The framework consolidates previous regulations while introducing stricter controls on privacy tokens, algorithmic tokens, and client asset holdings, positioning the UAE as a leading hub for regulated digital asset innovation.

Moreover, professional judgment plays a fundamental role in enhancing the credibility, transparency, and reliability of valuation outcomes.

The transaction, which was also recognised as Ijarah Deal of the Year, reflects the continued use of sophisticated Sukuk structures in the region and the important role of Cayman Islands issuer vehicles...

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - June 30th, 2025 - Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has released its latest edition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Banking Pulse for Q1 2025.

The private credit landscape across the Middle East is maturing at pace, with sponsors, institutional investors, and arrangers increasingly demanding...

The DIFC Variable Capital Company (VCC) offers a flexible corporate structure for family offices, property investors, and asset holders through Segregated Cells or Incorporated Cells. This new vehicle provides ring-fenced solutions for managing high-value assets, intellectual property, and crowdfunding platforms in the UAE's financial free zone.

The UAE has emerged as one of the leading jurisdictions for fund establishment, fund management and capital raising across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia corridor.

Moreover, professional judgment plays a fundamental role in enhancing the credibility, transparency, and reliability of valuation outcomes.