CMA Consults on Foreign Financial-Market Dealing Rules

The Capital Market Authority has opened a 30-day public consultation on draft provisions regulating dealing activities in financial markets outside Saudi Arabia. The consultation period runs until 27 October 2026, corresponding to 16 Jumada I 1448 AH, with comments submitted through the Istitlaa unified public-consultation platform.

The draft sets out how Saudi capital-market institutions may deal with clients in foreign financial markets. Under the proposed rules, suitability requirements would apply to transactions carried out in foreign markets that are equivalent to Saudi Arabia’s Main Market or its listed debt-instruments market.

Among the key safeguards, clients would be required to provide a margin of at least 50% of the transaction value, and this margin must be monitored on a periodic basis. The draft also prohibits transactions involving highly leveraged instruments, as well as transactions involving companies whose accumulated losses exceed 50% of their capital.

Why it matters

For investors and residents active in international markets through local institutions, the proposed framework aims to strengthen protection and set clearer conditions for cross-border dealing. The margin, monitoring, and prohibition rules are designed to limit exposure to high-risk products.

The final provisions are scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2026. During the consultation window, interested parties can review the draft and submit their views through the Istitlaa platform before the rules are finalised.

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