Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and Nasdaq Dubai are pleased to announce today (Thursday) the establishment of a Strategic Working Group to deepen cooperation and strengthen financial market connectivity between Hong Kong and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Building on ongoing regulatory and market dialogue, the Strategic Working Group brings together exchanges and regulators from Hong Kong and the DIFC through a structured platform to align strategic priorities and pursue practical initiatives that support the continued growth and attractiveness of both markets. Its areas of focus will include sustainable finance, Islamic finance, innovation, capital markets development and market connectivity.
The announcement was made at the HKMA-DFSA Joint Climate Finance Conference held in Hong Kong today, which attracted over 350 in-person and online participants from the two regions. This year marks the third edition of the flagship conference jointly presented by the HKMA and the DFSA, and the second year in which HKEX and Nasdaq Dubai have participated as strategic partners.
HKEX Chief Executive Officer, Bonnie Y Chan, said: “Global capital flows are increasingly being shaped by the growing economic ties between Asia and the Middle East. As leading international financial centres at the heart of their respective regions, Hong Kong and Dubai have complementary strengths that can help facilitate the two-way flow of capital, ideas and opportunities. HKEX’s growing commodities presence in Dubai, together with our engagement with exchanges across the UAE, reflects our long-term commitment to this dynamic corridor. The Strategic Working Group is an important next step in translating that commitment into action by deepening collaboration, advancing market connectivity, and supporting innovation and sustainable growth.”
HKMA Chief Executive, Eddie Yue, said: “The Strategic Working Group marks another key step in deepening our institutional ties and market connectivity. By developing this collaboration mechanism, we are establishing a dedicated platform to better understand and align strategic priorities, as well as exploring new initiatives to facilitate smoother trade and investment between Asia and the Middle East.”
DFSA Chief Executive, Mark Steward, said: "This initiative reflects the maturing of our shared commitment to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the discovery of greater mutual benefits within the Dubai-Hong Kong corridor. Cross-market connectivity helps both markets and offers investors greater choices and rewards across both financial centres."
Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market, Chief Executive Officer, Hamed Ali, said: “This Strategic Working Group builds on the strong collaboration between Dubai and Hong Kong. Nasdaq Dubai’s position as a leading international hub for fixed income and Islamic finance listings provides a strong platform to connect issuers and investors across the Middle East and Asia, particularly in Sukuk and sustainable finance. We look forward to strengthening this collaboration and enhancing market connectivity between the two regions.”
Looking ahead, the four organisations will maintain regular engagement, exchange perspectives on market developments, and explore opportunities to strengthen connectivity between Hong Kong and Dubai, supporting the continued development of the financial corridor between Asia and the Middle East.
(From left) Ken Chiu, Head of Carbon and ESG Products, HKEX; Eddie Yue, Chief Executive, HKMA; Mark Steward, Chief Executive, DFSA; and Eric Salomons, Executive Vice President, Head of Product Development, Nasdaq Dubai, present the signed Terms of Reference for the Strategic Working Group at the HKMA-DFSA Joint Climate Finance Conference.
About HKEX
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is a publicly-traded company (HKEX Stock Code: 388) and one of the world’s leading global exchange groups, offering a range of equity, derivative, commodity, fixed income and other financial markets, products and services, including the London Metal Exchange.
As a superconnector and gateway between East and West, HKEX facilitates the two-way flow of capital, ideas and dialogue between China and the rest of the world, through its pioneering Connect schemes, increasingly diversified product ecosystem and its deep, liquid and international markets.
HKEX is a purpose-led organisation which, across its business and through the work of HKEX Foundation, seeks to connect, promote and progress its markets and the communities it supports for the prosperity of all.
www.hkexgroup.com
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