The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance regulatory cooperation in supervising cross-border investment management.
The agreement, unveiled during the 10th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, establishes a framework for consultation, cooperation, and information-sharing between the two regulators. The goal is to bolster oversight of collective investment scheme managers operating across the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Hong Kong, ensuring higher standards of compliance, governance, and market integrity.
The MoU was signed by Mark Steward, Chief Executive of DFSA, and Julia Leung, CEO of the SFC, in a ceremony officiated by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John KC Lee and attended by SFC Chairman Dr Kelvin Wong. The signing reflects a year of collaborative work between both regulators, including high-level meetings and a joint roundtable with leading asset managers in Hong Kong.
“Today’s MoU between the DFSA and the SFC will help firms operate in each other’s markets with confidence and integrity, and demonstrates our shared commitment to regulatory excellence and cross-border innovation,” said Steward.
Leung added that the strengthened partnership “underscores our shared commitment to bolstering regional market connectivity to create mutual long-term benefits for Hong Kong and DIFC as international financial hubs,” positioning the agreement as a milestone for the China–Middle East Corridor.
The move is expected to deepen Dubai’s and Hong Kong’s roles as gateways for global investment flows, reinforcing their positions as leading international financial centres amidst a shifting global landscape.
–Input WAM
