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This episode covers Saudi Central Bank's readiness plans for pilgrimage seasons, CMA's capital increase approval for Asas Makeen, Bahrain's treasury bill oversubscription, Saudi Arabia's cybersecurity initiatives at GDX 2026, contributions to UN Cybercrime Convention, and critical security patches from ASUS, HP, and Samsung.
Regulatory news, updates, and insights for countries in the Middle East presented by the Carver Agents team
Welcome to Carver's Middle East Regulatory Updates for February 09, 2026.
Starting with financial and regulatory developments, the Saudi Central Bank has mandated exchange offices in key pilgrimage locations to enhance readiness and operate at full capacity during the upcoming Ramadan and Hajj seasons. This directive focuses on operational efficiency, security, and customer service to support the high influx of visitors.
In capital markets news, the Capital Market Authority has approved a significant capital increase for Asas Makeen Real Estate Development and Investment Company. The company's capital will rise from 100 million to 300 million Saudi Riyals through the issuance of two bonus shares for every existing share, tripling the outstanding shares to 30 million.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Bahrain announced that its latest treasury bill issue, valued at 70 million Bahraini Dinars, was oversubscribed by 108%. The 91-day bills carry a weighted average interest rate of 4.85%, reflecting strong investor demand.
Turning to cybersecurity and technology, the National Cybersecurity Authority of Saudi Arabia is participating as a cybersecurity partner in the 2026 Global Defense Exhibition. The authority will showcase its strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening national cybersecurity resilience.
In related news, Saudi Arabia contributed to finalizing the draft internal regulations for the United Nations Cybercrime Convention at a recent committee meeting in Vienna. This effort underscores the kingdom’s commitment to international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
On the technology front, several security updates have been released by major companies. ASUS has removed the vulnerable File Shredder feature in its Business Manager software to address a local privilege escalation vulnerability. HP has launched HP ThinPro 8.1 Service Pack 9, patching multiple critical and high-severity vulnerabilities. Samsung also issued security patches for flagship mobile devices, addressing several high-severity threats identified by Google and Samsung.
Additionally, critical vulnerabilities were discovered in SmarterTools’ SmarterMail software, including risks of remote code execution and authentication bypass. Users are advised to update promptly to mitigate potential threats.
In regulatory compliance, the Financial Crime Compliance Panel has published the United Arab Emirates’ Virtual Assets Travel Rule. This rule mandates Virtual Asset Service Providers to collect, verify, and securely transmit detailed originator and beneficiary information for every virtual asset transfer. Enhanced due diligence and risk-based policies are required to ensure compliance.
On the international cooperation front, Germany and Saudi Arabia have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to deepen collaboration on carbon management, energy efficiency, digital transformation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and supply chain resilience. This agreement aims to build on existing partnerships and promote sustainable development.
In workforce development, Abu Dhabi Global Market Academy and the DGE Mawaheb Talent Hub have launched new industry-aligned programs targeting national workforce transformation in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The initiatives include accelerators in software development, technology infrastructure, and strategic business intelligence, with a goal of 620 job placements.
The Saudi Ministry of Communications has also launched the iBridge – AWS Builder Accelerator program. This initiative offers Saudi nationals advanced cloud computing training through a four-week intensive course in Virginia, USA, starting April 20, 2026, aimed at enhancing cloud skills and employability.
In financial regulation enforcement, the Dubai Financial Services Authority has fined Ed Broking (MENA) Limited USD 455,176 for engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct. The violations included inconsistent premium disclosures and non-disclosure of brokerage commissions, highlighting the regulator’s commitment to market integrity.
Finally, the International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva recently spoke in Dubai about leveraging artificial intelligence to boost productivity and economic diversification, particularly in the Gulf region. She emphasized the need for sound macroeconomic policies, regulatory frameworks, and international cooperation to harness