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Policy updates, China–UAE developments, industry news and official Middle East travel alerts.

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October 13, 2026Source: Gulf News

UAE Scraps E-Invoicing Pre-Approval Under New Ministry of Finance Decision

The UAE Ministry of Finance has eliminated the preliminary approval stage for electronic invoicing service providers, requiring them to secure direct accreditation before offering services. Issued under Ministerial Decision No. 168 of 2026, the updated framework took effect on October 1, 2026, ahead of the October 30 deadline for large businesses to appoint an accredited provider. Service providers that previously held preliminary approval have 30 days from October 1 to complete the necessary assessments and testing.

Policy & Legal Updates

October 13, 2026Source: CryptoRank

Kraken Parent Payward Wins Full Dubai Crypto License from VARA

Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has granted Full Market Approval to Payward FZCO, the parent company entity of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. The license authorizes Payward to provide broker-dealer, management, and investment services to retail, professional, and institutional clients. Kraken plans to launch UAE services in the coming weeks, featuring UAE dirham trading pairs and direct AED funding.

Policy & Legal Updates

October 13, 2026Source: The Economic Times

Five Gulf Nations Pursue Schengen Visa Waiver Ahead of Riyadh EU-GCC Summit

Five Gulf Cooperation Council states are seeking a Schengen visa exemption for their citizens ahead of an upcoming bilateral summit in Riyadh. The Economic Times reports that the discussions apply exclusively to national passport holders rather than foreign residents living in the Gulf. The United Arab Emirates currently remains the only GCC member country with established visa-free Schengen access.

Industry News

October 13, 2026Source: Invezz

Gold Holds Below $4,200 as China Buying Offsets $10 Billion Short Positions

Spot gold traded at $4,185.69 an ounce as trend-following funds accumulated an estimated $10 billion net short position. Concurrently, China's central bank extended its gold buying streak to 23 consecutive months, adding approximately 23 tonnes in September. Analysts note that structural accumulation by central banks is offsetting speculative selling ahead of key US inflation data.