The Central Bank of the UAE and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cross-border financial connectivity and regulatory cooperation during their third bilateral meeting, held in Abu Dhabi and co-chaired by Khaled Mohamed Balama and Eddie Yue.
The discussions reflected the growing depth of collaboration between the two institutions and built on progress made during their second meeting in Hong Kong in December 2024. Officials reviewed developments across multiple priority areas, including cross-border debt capital market connectivity, digital assets, tokenisation, central bank digital currency, regulatory frameworks for stablecoins, and supply chain financing.
Assistant governors and senior officials from both sides attended the meeting, underscoring a shared objective to advance technical cooperation and strengthen coordination at both strategic and operational levels to support sustainable financial sector development.
A key outcome highlighted was the CBUAE’s formal membership in Hong Kong’s Central Moneymarkets Unit, the core central securities depository for debt securities. The move follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding during the previous meeting to establish connectivity between debt capital markets and related financial market infrastructure.
The membership gives the CBUAE and UAE-based investors direct and cost-effective access to Chinese Mainland capital markets and financial assets through Hong Kong’s established infrastructure, marking a significant step in deepening financial integration between the two regions.
Balama said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening international financial market connectivity and expanding global engagement, while reinforcing the UAE’s role as a leading international capital market hub.
Yue welcomed the CBUAE’s inclusion in the CMU, noting that it reinforces Hong Kong’s position as a premier offshore Renminbi business hub and a key gateway for international investors seeking exposure to China and Asia.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
