Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission and Dubai’s DFSA sign key Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration on investment management, signalling a major boost to regional financial connectivity amid broader efforts in sustainable finance and cross-border collaboration.
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) have formally established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening the way they work together on regulatory matters concerning collective investment scheme managers operating across their respective markets. This agreement was signed by SFC CEO Julia Leung and DFSA CEO Mark Steward at the 10th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong. Basically, the goal here is to create a solid framework for sharing information, consulting, and coordinating supervision of cross-border investment management and advisory activities—kind of like building a bridge for smoother cooperation.
This step clearly signals a deliberate effort to deepen the bond between these two major financial hubs, and it's all about better regional market connectivity. Julia Leung emphasized that this partnership would help reinforce Hong Kong’s important position within the China-Middle East Corridor, especially given how challenging the global economy has been lately. Mark Steward, for his part, pointed out Dubai’s role as a critical gateway linking Asia and the Middle East. He also noted that this cooperation is key to allowing firms in both markets to operate with confidence, integrity, and the ability to adapt quickly to new innovations.
The signing wasn’t just a standalone event either. It came shortly after a roundtable that was co-hosted by the SFC and DFSA, involving top asset managers based in Hong Kong. That kind of active engagement with players in the industry suggests they’re serious about aligning regulatory oversight with the rapidly evolving practices in the industry. Plus, this MoU fits into the bigger picture of regional efforts to promote sustainable finance and improve cross-border market infrastructure—something that's been gaining momentum through various agreements and collaborations lately.
For example, earlier in 2024, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the DFSA joined forces to organize the very first Joint Climate Finance Conference, which focused on strengthening the eco-friendly corridor between Asia and the Middle East. That event led to an MoU designed to boost cooperation around sustainable finance—think of it as sharing knowledge, doing joint research, and opening up dialogue about transition finance gaps and opportunities across borders.
Not just Dubai, either. The regulatory collaboration extends beyond that city into the wider UAE. On December 20, 2024, the HKMA and the Central Bank of the UAE formalized another MoU to promote cooperation in financial markets, especially around cross-border debt issuance and infrastructure development. This deal is meant to make it easier to issue and invest in debt securities between Hong Kong and the UAE—kind of like laying the groundwork for more integrated financial flows between the two.
And it doesn’t stop there. The Abu Dhabi Global Market’s (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and the SFC signed a similar MoU in May 2025. This agreement aims to improve supervision of investment managers across both jurisdictions—another step towards creating shared frameworks that support cross-border fund management and advisory services. Basically, we’re seeing a lot of momentum in this regional cooperation trend.
All these efforts—whether it's the MoU between Hong Kong and Dubai, or the ones with the UAE and ADGM—show a real push to build resilient, transparent, and innovative ecosystems for investment management. The idea is to unlock flow of international capital, support sustainable finance initiatives, and maintain high standards of regulation and investor protection. Given how these markets act as vital gateways in the bigger global financial picture, these partnerships seem like smart moves toward the future.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://investment-international.com/News/hong-kong-and-dubai-regulators-sign-agreement-to-enhance-cross-border-investment-management/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
- https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/news-and-media/press-releases/2024/12/20241220-3/ - On 20 December 2024, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) held their second bilateral meeting in Hong Kong. The discussions focused on enhancing financial market cooperation, including cross-border debt capital market connectivity and financial infrastructure development. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Mr. Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, and H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, to formalise these cooperative arrangements, aiming to facilitate cross-border debt securities issuance and investment activities between Hong Kong and the UAE.
- https://uaenews247.com/2025/05/16/abu-dhabi-and-hong-kong-enhance-regulatory-cooperation-on-cross-border-investment-management/ - On 15 May 2025, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance regulatory cooperation in supervising investment managers of collective investment schemes based in either jurisdiction. The MoU establishes a framework for consultation, cooperation, and information exchange concerning the supervision and oversight of regulated entities engaged in cross-border fund management, investment management, or advisory activities.
- https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/news-and-media/press-releases/2024/09/20240916-4/ - On 16 September 2024, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) held their inaugural Joint Climate Finance Conference in Hong Kong. The conference, themed 'Building a Net-Zero Asia – Middle East Corridor', focused on the demand for and gaps in transition finance, exploring opportunities for greater collaboration between Hong Kong and Dubai. During the event, the HKMA and the DFSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen their strategic partnership on sustainable finance, aiming to enhance cross-border dialogue, exchange information on recent trends, and conduct joint research and events to promote progress in this area.
- https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/abu-dhabi-and-hong-kong-enhance-regulatory-cooperation-on-cross-border-investment-management-gatap91b - The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance regulatory cooperation on the supervision of investment managers of collective investment schemes based in either jurisdiction. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), held in Doha, Qatar. The MoU establishes a framework for consultation, cooperation, and the exchange of information concerning the supervision and oversight of regulated entities engaged in cross-border fund management, investment management, or advisory activities.
- https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/news-and-media/press-releases/2024/12/20241220-3/ - On 20 December 2024, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) held their second bilateral meeting in Hong Kong. The discussions focused on enhancing financial market cooperation, including cross-border debt capital market connectivity and financial infrastructure development. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Mr. Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, and H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, to formalise these cooperative arrangements, aiming to facilitate cross-border debt securities issuance and investment activities between Hong Kong and the UAE.
- https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/news-and-media/press-releases/2024/09/20240916-4/ - On 16 September 2024, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) held their inaugural Joint Climate Finance Conference in Hong Kong. The conference, themed 'Building a Net-Zero Asia – Middle East Corridor', focused on the demand for and gaps in transition finance, exploring opportunities for greater collaboration between Hong Kong and Dubai. During the event, the HKMA and the DFSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen their strategic partnership on sustainable finance, aiming to enhance cross-border dialogue, exchange information on recent trends, and conduct joint research and events to promote progress in this area.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The narrative reports on a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) during the 10th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong. The earliest known publication date of this MoU is 12 September 2025, as reported by Investment International. This MoU follows previous collaborations between the SFC and DFSA, including a high-level roundtable in Dubai on 31 May 2024 and a joint conference in Hong Kong on 16 September 2024. The report includes updated data and references to these earlier events, indicating a high freshness score. However, the narrative does not appear to be republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The content is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score: 9
Notes: The narrative includes direct quotes from Julia Leung, CEO of the SFC, and Mark Steward, CEO of the DFSA. A search for the earliest known usage of these quotes indicates that they were first published in the press release dated 12 September 2025. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, suggesting that the quotes are original to this report. The wording of the quotes matches the press release, with no variations identified. No online matches were found for these quotes, raising the score but flagging them as potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score: 7
Notes: The narrative originates from Investment International, a financial news outlet. While it is not as widely known as major outlets like the Financial Times or Reuters, it appears to be a legitimate source. The report is based on a press release from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), which is a reputable organisation. The press release is dated 12 September 2025, and the MoU was signed during the 10th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong. The HKMA is a legitimate organisation with a public presence and a legitimate website. No unverifiable entities are mentioned in the report. However, the reliance on a single press release and the use of a less widely known news outlet may reduce the overall reliability score.
Plausability check
Score: 8
Notes: The narrative reports on a recent MoU signed between the SFC and the DFSA, aiming to enhance cross-border investment management. This aligns with previous collaborations between the two authorities, including a high-level roundtable in Dubai on 31 May 2024 and a joint conference in Hong Kong on 16 September 2024. The claims made in the narrative are plausible and consistent with known events. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as the names of the organisations and the date of the MoU signing. The language and tone are consistent with official communications from financial regulatory bodies. No excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim is present. The tone is formal and appropriate for the subject matter. No inconsistencies in language or tone were identified. The narrative does not make any surprising or impactful claims that are not covered elsewhere. The report lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. However, the plausibility of the claims and the consistency with known events support a higher score.
Overall assessment
Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary: The narrative reports on a recent MoU signed between Hong Kong's SFC and Dubai's DFSA, enhancing cross-border investment management. The content is fresh, with no evidence of recycled news. The quotes are original and exclusive to this report. The source is a legitimate financial news outlet, and the information aligns with known events. While the reliance on a single press release and the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets are noted, the overall assessment is positive. No major risks were identified.