Market participants are monitoring key financial metrics including state-backed Chinese ETF purchases and Bank of China Dubai's landmark Yulan bond debut on Nasdaq Dubai. The two-year, 2 billion yuan bond issue was more than five times oversubscribed, with sovereign accounts taking over 30 percent. Other major indicators include Standard Chartered's 46 percent profit rise and steady benchmark interest rates in the US and Hong Kong.
Saudi Arabia announced on September 19, 2026, that it had completed its participation in the China-led mBridge CBDC initiative over a year prior. The Saudi Central Bank stated its involvement was limited to the proof-of-concept phase finished in May 2025. An analysis by Small Wars Journal noted that technical participation in emerging payment systems does not ensure long-term geopolitical alignment.
The Saudi Central Bank has concluded its formal participation in Project mBridge following the completion of a proof-of-concept phase in May 2025. The cross-border digital currency initiative was developed jointly with China and the UAE to facilitate non-dollar trade settlements. Operations continue among the remaining participants, including the central banks of the UAE, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
The Saudi Central Bank has ended its formal participation in Project mBridge, the multilateral central bank digital currency platform developed with China and the UAE. While the central bank stated that its exit was planned following a completed proof-of-concept phase in May 2025, the disclosure has prompted debate over geopolitical pressures and non-dollar settlement systems. The platform continues operations among remaining central banks, including China, the UAE, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
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