Securities And Commodities Authority

The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) is a federal financial regulatory agency in the United Arab Emirates. It was established based on Federal Decree No. (4) of 2000 by then-president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and its amendments issued in Federal Law 25 of 2006, amending the former law.

The authority is a federal government agency, which is financially and administratively independent, headed by a CEO and a chairman of a board of directors, both appointed by the President of the UAE. The main objective of the authority is to supervise and monitor financial markets in the UAE, including the Dubai Financial Market and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. However, it is not responsible for regulating financial activity in free economic zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre, which are regulated by independent laws and courts such as the DIFC Courts.

History

The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) was established by Federal Law No. (4) of 2000 enacted by Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the first legislation for securities in the UAE and was initially named Emirates Securities & Commodities Authority and Market. The first two exchange markets, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and the Dubai Financial Market would be founded shortly after in the same year.

In 2004, Dubai established the Dubai Financial Services Authority, which would be the sole regulatory authority for the economic free zone of Dubai International Financial Centre, which included independent exchanges such as Nasdaq Dubai outside of the control of the SCA.

In 2006, UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued Law 25 of 2006 amending certain provisions of the prior law, removing the requirement of the board of directors to represent various governmental departments and the reducing the board of directors from 8 board members to 5 and expanding the requirement for board members to declare any securities or stock they own, or stock owned by the board member's family and minor children.

Organisational structure

The SCA was established on January 29, 2000, by a federal decree issued by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding President of the United Arab Emirates. It was created under Federal Law No. (4) of 2000 as an independent public authority with legal, financial, and administrative autonomy.

Its primary purpose is to regulate and supervise the UAE’s securities and commodities markets. The SCA is responsible for ensuring market transparency, protecting investors, and enhancing the efficiency of financial markets. It also oversees licensing, compliance, and market monitoring while promoting fair trading practices and investor confidence.

The current chairman of the SCA is Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa.

The SCA is organised into departments that report to the chief executive, which include:
* Supervision Department
* Issues and Disclosure Department
* Human Resources and Financial Affairs Department
* Research and Technical Support Department
* Commodities Department
* Enforcement Department

See also

* Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange
* Dubai Financial Market
* List of financial regulatory authorities by jurisdiction

References

External links

"Securities and Commodities Authority"

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United Arab Emirates federal entities
Government agencies established in 2000
Financial regulatory authorities of the United Arab Emirates
Regulation in the United Arab Emirates