Managing Partner's Foreword

Welcome to this
month’s Law Update

This month, our Focus spotlights Financial Services, a sector that has been undergoing significant reform and transformation across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in recent years. To keep pace with this dynamic industry, governments, and regulatory bodies are creating more transparent and effective regulatory frameworks. As such, we're seeing a wave of new regulations and laws being introduced, which continue to strengthen the sector and create a stable, resilient, and sustainable financial system that can support economic growth and development.

In this issue, we share key insights and expert analysis from several MENA jurisdictions that can help you navigate the complex regulatory landscape in the Financial Services sector. We cover a range of topics from Fintech in Kuwait to green finance in Jordan. We also explore sustainable finance and ESG developments in Bahrain, Saudi's new payment regulations, limitations on using the US Dollar in Iraq, and data centre financing in the UAE.

Additionally, we provide unique commentary on important regulatory developments outside the Financial Services sector. For example, we address two new pieces of UAE legislation, first on combating commercial fraud and the second analysis the federal trust law. In our final section we share with you real life judgments to provide you with context to our work and the legal landscape across the region.

We hope this edition provides you with the necessary tools to navigate the ever-evolving legal landscape in the MENA region. If you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of the lawyers who have contributed to this issue.