UAE Capital Market Authority Reports AED 1.2 Billion in Investor Refunds

According to a nine-month operational update from the UAE's Capital Market Authority (CMA) reported by Finance Magnates, clients recovered approximately AED 1.2 billion ($327 million) in refunds during the first nine months of 2026. The figure compares with AED 8 million reported for the corresponding period a year earlier and represents roughly 111 times the AED 10.8 million in refunds documented for the full year 2025.

The regulator indicated that the number of companies holding a CMA license increased by 43% year-on-year, while the volume of investor complaints handled rose by 192%. Accredited financial professionals increased by 64% during the period. In terms of enforcement, regulatory warnings grew by 767% and the number of penalties surged by 246%, while aggregate fine values rose 23% to AED 12.9 million.

The figures reflect the first nine-month reporting cycle since Federal Decree-Laws No. 32 and 33 of 2025 took effect on January 1, transforming the former Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) into the CMA with widened supervisory remit. The regulator's public register listed 28 firms approved for over-the-counter derivatives and spot foreign exchange trading, up from 11 at year-end 2024.

The update also highlighted broader market activity, noting that foreign investors generated 49% of the AED 408 billion traded across the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Dubai Financial Market (DFM) in the nine-month period. The combined capitalization of both bourses stood at AED 3.7 trillion at the end of September.