CMA LAW: Press Release: The Capital Markets Authority Participates in the 32nd Meeting of Heads of Capital Markets Authorities Committee (or their equivalent) in GCC Countries

Kuwait, September 7, 2026 – The 32nd meeting of Heads of Capital Markets Authorities Committee (or their equivalent) in GCC Countries was held today remotely, with the participation of their Excellencies Heads and representatives of GCC capital markets regulators and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The meeting was chaired by Her Excellency MRS. Noora Hasan Abdulghani - Executive Director of Supervision - Central Bank of Bahrain (Kingdom of Bahrain - Charing State), with the participation of His Excellency Mr. Khaled Bin Ali Bin Salem Al-Sunaidi, Assistant Secretary General for Economic and Development Affairs at the General Secretariat of the GCC, and their Excellencies Heads of the Boards of Directors (or their equivalent): His Excellency Mr. Youssef Bin Hamad Al-Bilihid - Vice Chairman of the Capital Market Authority (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), His Excellency Mr. Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, CEO of Securities & Commodities Authority (UAE), His Excellency Dr. Tamy Ahmad Ali Al-Tamy Al Binali - CEO of the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (State of Qatar), His Excellency Mr. Ahmed ALMamari - Vice President at the Capital Market Authority (Sultanate of Oman), and Mr. Ali Haroon AlAamer - Director - Capital Markets Supervision -  Central Bank of Bahrain (Kingdom of Bahrain). The State of Kuwait was represented in this meeting by Mr. Emad Ahmed Ali Tifouni- Chairman of CMA Board of Commissioners - Managing Director.

The meeting opened with welcoming statements in which participants expressed their gratitude of GCC joint efforts considering the turbulent regional conditions and to mitigate their repercussions across various fields, particularly economic ones and those related to securities activities and capital market operations.

The meeting discussed multiple subjects and initiatives aimed at enhancing integration and coordination among financial markets of the GCC countries, improving regulatory and supervisory cooperation frameworks, keeping pace with updates and developments in financial markets, and exploring ways to use modern technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency of monitoring and supervision tasks.

As part of enhancing integration among GCC financial markets, the committee discussed updates on implementing initiatives referred to the Gulf Capital Markets Committee (Exchanges), including the initiatives related to encouraging the listing and trading of bonds and sukuk in GCC financial markets, promoting dual listing for companies and funds across Gulf markets, and electronic linkage of depository and settlement companies and institutions to strengthen market interconnection and facilitate investment flows.

The committee also discussed the recent updates of Passporting of Investment Funds, and the efforts of completing the regulatory requirements necessary for its implementation.

The Committee reviewed the outcomes of the GCC Financial Market Integration Strategy Team, including the initiative of exchanging expertise and experiences among financial market authorities, the results of the study regarding the regulatory framework for opening investment accounts and Know Your Client (KYC) procedures, as well as examining the ongoing efforts of studying its conversion into a mandatory model in the future, thereby contributing to greater convergence among the requirements and procedures applied by the financial market regulators across the GCC countries.

In the field of communication and investor awareness, the Committee reviewed the work of the team of specialists in communication and investor awareness. The Capital Market Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presented a summary of the Smart Gulf Investor Award in its recently concluded fourth season. In addition, ways to enhance the award's impact, sustainability, and maintaining its Gulf identity were discussed, along with a review of joint awareness campaigns aimed at raising awareness of investors' rights and obligations.

The committee also discussed the outcomes of the team of officials responsible for training and studies at the financial market regulators in GCC countries. This included findings and recommendations of the study on the state of human capital in financial market authorities, as well as the study on artificial intelligence and its applications in the securities markets, within the framework of supporting the exchange of knowledge and expertise and developing institutional and human capacities among the regulatory authorities.

The committee reviewed a proposal to hold a GCC workshop on trading supervision, aiming to enhance the exchange of expertise and regulatory practices among the concerned authorities.

As part of efforts to keep pace with digital transformation and enhancing supervisory tools, the committee discussed a proposal by the Kuwaiti Capital Markets Authority on enhancing the use of modern supervisory technologies (SupTech) and artificial intelligence in the regulation and supervision of financial markets across GCC countries. The proposal outlined several mechanisms to strengthen Gulf supervisory cooperation, including the exchange of supervisory indicators and early warning signals, exploring the development of a GCC guide on using AI for trading surveillance, fostering the exchange of practical expertise among supervisory departments, and establishing a Gulf knowledge base for violations and financial crimes to enhance the efficiency of regulatory bodies and strengthen investor protection.

The meeting was concluded with recommendations expected to be included in the agenda of the next meeting, with coordination and implementation efforts to begin in the interim preceding that date.

Ends-
Notes to Editors:
The Capital Markets Authority was established pursuant to Law No. 7/2010, approved by the Kuwaiti Parliament in February 2010. Pursuant to the Law, the CMA shall regulate and supervise the securities activities, achieve transparency and fairness, observe listed companies’ execution of Corporate Governance regulations, and protect investors from unfair practices which violate the CMA's Law.

Furthermore, the Law's provisions stipulate the supervision of mergers, acquisitions, and disclosure operations. The CMA also aims to provide awareness programs related to securities activities.

For further information, please contact:
Awareness, Public Relations & Communication Office
Tel: 1888898
Email: pr-media@cma.gov.kw

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for reference purposes only, visitors are encouraged to review and understand the information provided in the official scanned document attached in the link above (if available). The CMA endeavors to ensure that the information on this page is complete and accurate, but the CMA does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, or completeness of any content at any time. In the event the information on this page is different from the content in the official scanned document attached in the link (if available), the official scanned document attached shall take precedence.