The United Arab Emirates has appointed Waleed Saeed Abdul Salam Al Awadhi as chief executive of the Securities and Commodities Authority, the federal regulator that oversees the country’s capital markets. The appointment was made by federal decree.
Al Awadhi joined the regulator from the Dubai Financial Services Authority, where he served as chief operating officer. That background gives him experience inside one of the region’s established financial rule setting bodies.
He takes on the role as the UAE continues to develop its capital markets and align its rules with international standards. The authority supervises exchanges, listed companies and market intermediaries across the country.
The UAE has worked to deepen its markets and attract listings, including a wave of public offerings in recent years. A steady regulatory hand is seen as important to sustaining that momentum.
The Securities and Commodities Authority coordinates with the exchanges in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as with international regulators, as the UAE positions itself as a regional financial hub.
