The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) board has approved the issuance of three new regulations covering insurance licensing, insurance brokers and telemarketing, alongside reviewing progress on key financial infrastructure transformation projects and cross-border payments connectivity initiatives. The new measures comprise an Insurance Licensing Regulation, an Insurance Brokers’ Regulation and a Telemarketing Regulation aligned to Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024 on telemarketing, with the stated objectives of enhancing consumer protection and improving market efficiency. The board also reviewed progress on the International Central Securities Depository project and the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) System, approved the CBUAE’s estimated budget for 2026, and received an update on the “Ithraa” Emiratisation Programme in the banking, financial and insurance sector (2023–2026), reporting 95% of targets achieved through the recruitment of 9,754 UAE nationals. Separately, it was briefed on several central banks joining the “Jisr” platform for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and its interlinking with the UAE’s Instant Payment Interface (IPI) and domestic card scheme “Jaywan”, aimed at facilitating cross-border payments, reducing transaction costs and enabling instant settlement. The CBUAE set out an intention to expand participation by having more central banks join the UAE’s payment systems during 2026.

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