The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) sign MoU to enhance cooperation on regulating collective investment scheme managers.
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), regulator of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong to enhance cross-border regulatory cooperation.
The agreement, unveiled at the 10th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, establishes a framework for consultation, information exchange, and supervisory cooperation in overseeing collective investment scheme managers operating across both markets.
Strengthening Cross-Border Oversight
The MoU is designed to improve governance and compliance standards while promoting consistency in cross-border regulatory practices. It builds on a year of joint initiatives, including a high-level meeting and a roundtable with leading asset managers in Hong Kong.
“This MoU will help firms operate with confidence and integrity across Dubai and Hong Kong, while showcasing our shared commitment to regulatory excellence and cross-border innovation,” said Mark Steward, Chief Executive of the DFSA.
“Together, we are strengthening the framework for global investment and capital mobility between two leading financial hubs.”
Boosting Market Connectivity
Echoing this sentiment, Julia Leung, CEO of the SFC, highlighted the broader significance of the partnership:
“The strengthened SFC–DFSA partnership underscores our shared commitment to bolstering regional market connectivity and creating long-term benefits for Hong Kong and DIFC as international financial centers. This milestone reinforces Hong Kong’s role in the China–Middle East Corridor amid global economic shifts.”
A Milestone for Financial Cooperation
By deepening ties between Dubai and Hong Kong, the MoU aims to:
Enhance supervision of cross-border investment managers
Improve market transparency and investor protection
Support international capital mobility and investment growth
This latest development underlines the growing importance of regulatory cooperation between global financial hubs, paving the way for more integrated and resilient markets.
