Policy & Legal Updates

Abu Dhabi Firms Advised to Budget for Talent, Regulation and Cyber Resilience

Companies expanding operations in Abu Dhabi are being advised to allocate sufficient budgets for permanent local talent, regulatory compliance, and cybersecurity resilience for 2027. Financial data shows Abu Dhabi Global Market hosted over 190 asset and fund managers overseeing 276 funds in the first half of 2026, marking a 54 percent surge in assets under management year-on-year. Industry executives caution that operational expenses extend beyond office setup into human capital, compliance procedures, and cyber recovery systems.

Policy & Legal Updates

Saudi Arabia Consults on Data Protection Implementing Regulation Reforms

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has opened a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Implementing Regulation of the Personal Data Protection Law. The proposed revisions include changes to breach notifications, data subject access requests, direct marketing consent, and record retention requirements. The consultation closes on 5 November 2026, with the revised rules entering into force 60 days after official gazette publication.

Industry News

BV China and Pacific Gas Partner on Liquefied Gas Carrier Retrofits

Bureau Veritas (China) and Pacific Gas signed a strategic technical consulting agreement in Shanghai to support liquefied gas carrier retrofits. The partnership focuses on safety compliance, technical routes, and commercial deployment for Very Large Ethane Carriers and dual-fuel vessels. The initiative targets green maritime transitions across global and Gulf energy trade lanes.

Policy & Legal Updates

UAE Ministry of Finance Eases Electronic Invoicing Rules Ahead of 2027 Rollout

The UAE Ministry of Finance has issued Ministerial Decision No. 197 of 2026, granting businesses temporary exemptions and lifting local data storage mandates for electronic invoicing. The reforms include a 24-month waiver for intra-tax group transactions and retroactive application from October 1, 2026.