The Financial Market Authority, the federal body regulating financial markets and commodities in the UAE, announced on Monday that it achieved impressive performance and strong results across key regulatory and market indicators in 2025. This was attributed to ongoing growth in market activities, increased investor participation, and continued development of the national regulatory framework for capital markets.
During 2025, the Authority reported significant growth in licensing activity, completing 3,170 licenses and approvals compared to 1,272 in 2024. This represents an annual growth rate of 150%, marking one of the highest growth rates achieved by the Authority. This increase clearly indicates a rise in market activity and an expansion of the base of licensed entities. Additionally, assets managed by investment funds and portfolio management companies saw substantial growth in 2025, aligned with rising levels of market participation, showcasing an expansion in structured investment activities and institutional engagement.
The total value of managed assets in the UAE reached approximately $470 billion. In terms of overall market performance, the Authority’s regulatory oversight facilitated robust growth in the activities of investment funds and portfolio management firms under its supervision.
Investment Funds
The local investment fund system experienced notable expansion, with the number of local investment funds increasing by nearly 322% during 2025. Furthermore, the total number of funds monitored by the Authority, including recognized foreign funds, rose by approximately 66%, from 119 funds in 2024 to 197 funds in 2025. This expansion reflects the diversity of investment strategies and structures being established in the market, enhancing the options available to both individual and institutional investors, thus contributing to market growth and long-term resilience.
Growth and Development
Waleed Said Al-Owais, CEO of the Financial Market Authority, stated: “The Authority’s performance in 2025 reflects the ongoing growth and development of capital markets in the UAE and the effectiveness of its regulatory framework. The increase in licensing activity and the expansion of managed assets demonstrate the growing confidence in the regulatory environment and robust market participation. In the upcoming phase, the Authority will continue to strengthen its supervisory approach to capital markets and enhance its regulatory tools to keep pace with market developments, ensuring growth based on solid transparency, governance frameworks, and effective investor protection. Collectively, these developments affirm the expansion of long-term capital bases and the UAE’s evolving role as a regional and international center for institutional investment.”
The regulatory framework for capital markets underwent significant developments, with federal decrees regulating the Financial Market Authority and capital markets coming into force in 2026. This solidifies the legislative framework governing financial markets and commodities. Given the strong market results in 2025, these advancements reflect a renewed regulatory environment that adapts to market developments, supports efficient oversight, enhances market integrity, and maintains investor confidence.