Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission ( SFC ) and the Capital Market Authority ( CMA ) of the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) on January 27 signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) to strengthen cross-border regulatory collaboration on digital asset-related matters.  

The landmark MoU represents the SFC’s first agreement with an overseas regulator dedicated to supervisory collaboration on regulated digital asset entities. 

Underscoring the SFC’s commitment to promoting international cooperation under its ASPIRe Roadmap, the MoU establishes a framework to enhance regulatory cooperation, including mutual consultation and information exchange for supervising cross-border regulated digital asset entities.

The MoU was signed by H.E. Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, chief executive officer ( CEO ) of the CMA, and Ms Julia Leung, CEO of the SFC, in the presence of Dr Kelvin Wong, chairman of the SFC. 

The signing ceremony followed an industry roundtable on digital asset innovation, where the SFC and the CMA convened senior executives from the digital asset industry to discuss the digital asset ecosystem.

H.E. Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, CEO of the CMA, says, “This MoU strengthens supervisory cooperation between the CMA and the SFC on regulated digital asset activities. It establishes clear channels for consultation and information exchange, supporting effective oversight in a cross-border market. Our shared objective is to enable responsible innovation while upholding market integrity and strong investor protection.”

Leung says, “We are pleased to see SFC’s bilateral supervisory relations with CMA has expanded from mutual recognition of funds to supervisory collaboration on digital asset entities. This latest MoU will support responsible financial innovation for both Hong Kong and the UAE, and foster sustainable growth of the city’s vibrant and secure digital asset ecosystem.”

Dr Eric Yip, the SFC’s Executive Director of Intermediaries, says, “Cross-border regulatory collaboration is a key component of our ASPIRe Roadmap. We look forward to closer collaboration between the SFC and the CMA, which will enable both jurisdictions to address emerging risks together and collectively foster the sustainable growth of our digital asset ecosystem.”

At the roundtable, both regulators reaffirmed their shared vision to develop their digital asset markets sustainably through balanced regulation, and position both jurisdictions as forward-looking digital asset hubs. Industry leaders also shared valuable market insights and operational experiences during the session.

Separately, the SFC and the CMA, on the same day, co-hosted a high-level roundtable with senior executives of the city’s leading asset managers, to further the asset management-related ties between Hong Kong and the UAE, and build on the Mutual Recognition of Funds ( MRF ) MoU signed in September 2025, which enables cross‑border offering of public funds between the two markets. 

Co-chaired by Ms Leung and H.E. Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, attendees explored diverse opportunities to expand their business footprints in the UAE. Relatedly, the SFC and CMA jointly hosted an industry seminar earlier today to enhance Hong Kong asset managers’ understanding of the regulatory requirements to distribute funds in the UAE.