The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulatory authority for financial services in the Dubai International Financial Centre, hosted the inaugural 'Cyber Risk and Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Forum' as part of the Dubai FinTech Summit 2025.

The forum featured a session titled 'Integrity-Driven Innovation: Enhancing Cybersecurity and AI Regulation through International Dialogue,' which attracted participation from more than 30 regulatory entities, representing 18 local, regional, and international bodies from the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf Cooperation Council region, and across the globe.

The discussions centered on the most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence technologies.

The event dedicated an entire day to a series of meetings aimed at knowledge sharing, coordinating regulatory efforts, and fostering proactive dialogue among regulatory bodies.

This initiative provided participants with the opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by advanced technologies, such as post-quantum encryption and agent-based artificial intelligence.

The discussions focused on developing regulatory frameworks that protect financial stability and safeguard investors in a rapidly changing digital environment.

Justin Baldacchino, General Director of Regulatory Affairs at the DFSA, emphasized the pivotal role of technology in driving unprecedented transformation within the financial services sector.

He noted that this rapid evolution necessitates swift adaptation by regulatory authorities and strengthened collaboration to optimize the benefits of this transformation.

The DFSA, in its leadership role, expressed pride in facilitating this constructive global dialogue, which brought together regulators from various sectors in the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, along with international agencies.

The objective was to collaboratively address emerging challenges in the domains of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, exchange best practices, and explore new opportunities, contributing to the formulation of a shared vision for the future of the financial system.

Through the organization of the regulatory forum, the DFSA reaffirms its commitment to supporting responsible innovation via a series of pioneering initiatives, including the expansion of its Innovation Testing License to incorporate a coding process.

This initiative reflects the DFSA's steadfast commitment to enhancing innovation while ensuring the integrity of regulatory compliance.

This regulatory dialogue aligns with the DFSA's desire to maintain an active presence in international forums, including the Global Financial Innovation Network and working groups dedicated to artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency under the International Organization of Securities Commissions.

These efforts are consistent with Dubai's and the UAE's ambitious strategy to solidify their standing as a leading global hub for innovation while ensuring regulatory integrity and risk awareness.