GCMA Annual Conference 2026

This image from the Gulf Capital Market Association (GCMA) Annual Conference 2026 has recently attracted significant attention across the media. And for good reason.

For what may have been the first time, representatives from the UAE's three financial regulators, the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), shared the same stage.

Nisha Braganza, Founder and CEO of Vestora, shares her perspective for companies operating in (or entering) the UAE and what to expect going forward.

Expect stronger supervision: everywhere

The UAE's challenge is not a lack of growth. It is managing the quality of that growth. Regulators are clearly focused on raising standards and aligning internationally to welcome strong market participants.

For regulated firms, this is likely to mean higher expectations around governance, controls, conduct and increasing compliance requirements.

For unregulated firms, the boundaries matter even more. Having a clear understanding of what constitutes "regulated activity" is critical.

Expect more information sharing: one ecosystem

More importantly, the mainland, DIFC and ADGM are increasingly operating as one ecosystem. The focus is on market stability, participant protection and responsible growth. This means more information sharing between regulators going forward. To be clearer, operating in one zone no longer means you are invisible in another.

Technology and data will matter more: prepare to upgrade

With cyber risk and financial crime growing more complex, supervision is becoming far more tech- and data-driven. Firms still relying heavily on manual processes, siloed systems or weak data trails can expect growing pressure to upgrade.

Discuss your plans proactively

A clear message from the session was the importance regulators place on ongoing dialogue with industry. For firms, this open-door policy is a great opportunity to discuss plans early, test ideas and avoid surprises down the line.

The bigger picture

Altogether, this says a lot about where the UAE financial regulation and capital markets are headed, and how seriously that responsibility is being taken.

A timely and insightful discussion hosted by the Gulf Capital Market Association (GCMA) on 22 January 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.