The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and the Democratic Republic of the Congo officially took effect on October 30. The agreement eliminates tariffs on most product lines and streamlines customs procedures following bilateral non-oil trade reaching $3.5 billion in 2025. It marks the UAE's 20th CEPA to enter into force under its trade expansion program.
The Dubai Financial Services Authority has fined Moody's Middle East Limited $586,000 over data protection and information handling contraventions. The enforcement action follows an official investigation into operational and governance failures within the Dubai International Financial Centre. DFSA officials reiterated that licensed entities must adhere strictly to risk control and compliance standards.
The UAE Ministry of Finance has updated administrative penalties under the upcoming nationwide electronic invoicing regime through a new Cabinet Decision. An initial failure to comply now incurs a fine of AED 5,000, capped at AED 50,000 per 12-month period. The decision also eliminates penalties for failing to report IT system failures to the Federal Tax Authority.
The UAE Capital Market Authority is targeting asset tokenisation, artificial intelligence, and alternative trading systems as priorities for its 2027 regulatory agenda. During the first nine months of 2026, foreign investors accounted for 49 percent of the AED 408 billion traded across the Abu Dhabi and Dubai bourses. The regulator also reported a 43 percent year-on-year surge in licensed firms alongside heightened supervisory enforcement.
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