Dubai Clearing, a subsidiary of the Dubai Financial Market, along with Nasdaq Dubai, has officially received a Tier 1 Central Counterparty (CCP) classification from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), effective December 31, 2025.
This achievement marks Dubai Clearing and Nasdaq Dubai as the first and only central clearing parties (CCPs) in the Middle East and North Africa to attain this top-tier designation from the European authority. It represents a significant milestone in the development of financial market infrastructure in the UAE, emphasizing Dubai’s status as a globally recognized center for post-trade services that aligns with international standards and showcases flexibility.
With this Tier 1 classification, Dubai Clearing and Nasdaq Dubai will enhance their clearing activities by connecting with participants and institutions from the European Union as members of post-trade services. This partnership will facilitate cross-border connections between Dubai’s capital markets and those in the EU, strengthening its role as a link between regional issuers and global investors.
The European authority’s decision confirms that Dubai Clearing, regulated by the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), and Nasdaq Dubai, supervised by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), operate within regulatory frameworks that comply with the EU Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). This reflects the robust and mature regulatory environment in Dubai, aligning with global best practices in risk management and financial market oversight.
Hamed Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai, stated that this achievement highlights Dubai’s progress in establishing a reliable financial market infrastructure that earns the trust of investors on local, regional, and global levels. The Tier 1 classification enhances Dubai’s markets’ capability to connect and partner with global market institutions, supporting the city’s strategy to attract capital both regionally and internationally.
Fatima bin Qaddad, General Manager of Dubai Clearing, noted that acquiring the Tier 1 classification from the European financial markets authority is a significant step forward in Dubai Clearing’s international growth journey. It bolsters its ability to support cross-border activities while providing efficient, flexible clearing services that meet global standards.
As licensed central counterparties in Dubai, Dubai Clearing and Nasdaq Dubai play critical roles in ensuring the robustness and integrity of the post-trade system in the emirate, supporting long-term growth and international integration of Dubai’s capital markets.
This recognition also highlights the growing collaboration between regulatory bodies in the UAE and Europe, reaffirming Dubai’s long-term commitment to transparency, financial stability, and the development of market infrastructure that adheres to the highest global standards.