UAE Investor Refunds Jump to 1.2 Billion Dirhams as Licensed Firms Rise 43%
By Damian Chmiel
AI summary of the source article
Clients received approximately AED 1.2 billion in refunds in the first nine months of 2026 as UAE CMA-licensed firms rose 43%. Complaints handled surged 192% year-on-year following the regulator's expansion of supervisory powers.
Why it matters
Chief Executive Officer Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi stated that the growth in licensed companies and continued fundraising "reflect the strength of our markets and their capacity to support economic activity."
Key facts
- CMA refunds reached AED 1.2 billion in the first nine months of 2026, compared to AED 8 million in the prior-year period.
- Firms holding a CMA license increased 43% year-on-year, with 28 firms cleared for OTC derivatives and spot forex trading.
- The regulator issued six regulatory instruments, including a Virtual Assets Regulatory Framework, and registered 102 virtual assets for trading admission.
Source excerpt · Finance Magnates
Clients got back about AED 1.2 billion ($327 million) in refunds in the first nine months of 2026, the UAE's Capital Market Authority (CMA) said yesterday (Monday). The figure for the same period a year earlier was AED 8 million. The number of companies holding a CMA license rose 43% year-on-year, and the regulator handled 192% more complaints, according to its nine-month update. The refunds are a…