UAE: SCA, DWTCA Sign Agreement to Support Trading of Crypto Assets

The agreement is expected to contribute to the growth of the offering, issuance, listing, and trading of crypto assets and enhancing the uses of Blockchain in the UAE (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The agreement is expected to contribute to the growth of the offering, issuance, listing, and trading of crypto assets and enhancing the uses of Blockchain in the UAE (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UAE: SCA, DWTCA Sign Agreement to Support Trading of Crypto Assets

The agreement is expected to contribute to the growth of the offering, issuance, listing, and trading of crypto assets and enhancing the uses of Blockchain in the UAE (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The agreement is expected to contribute to the growth of the offering, issuance, listing, and trading of crypto assets and enhancing the uses of Blockchain in the UAE (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) have entered into an agreement supporting the regulation, offering, issuance, listing, and trading of crypto assets and related financial activities within DWTCA’s free zone.

“The SCA will be responsible for the regulatory supervision of offering, issuing, trading, and listing of crypto assets and the licensing of financial activities related to them within the limits of the DWTCA free zone,” said Maryam Al Suwaidi, acting CEO of SCA.

“The Dubai World Trade Centre Authority is committed to expanding its services as a freezone of choice for the international investment and entrepreneurial community,” stated Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general of DWTCA and Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

As Dubai continues its drive towards innovation and digital-led economy, DWTCA is looking to support businesses underpinned by blockchain and cryptographic technologies.

Our agreement with the Securities and Commodities Authority will allow DWTCA to broaden its regulatory, licenses, and services capabilities, in addition to extending the centralized supervision of the crypto market to our freezone.”

“With the rise of new technologies such as non-fungible tokens set to play an important role in the future of commerce, and building on the Future Blockchain Summit, DWTCA is also pursuing ways to offer a sustainable home for this ecosystem, in order to stay future-ready,” he stated.

As part of the agreement, the SCA, in collaboration with DWTCA, will handle the regulatory oversight of the issuance, offering, listing, and trading of crypto assets, as well as the licensing of the associated financial activities that fall under DWTCA’s jurisdiction.

The SCA and DWTCA will exchange best practices relating to the project, as well as delivering mutual technical support to enhance their understanding of both organizations’ financial systems.

The partnership will also include the provision of professional services that specify the responsibilities and obligations of both parties.



Non-Profit Sector Revenue in Saudi Arabia Reaches $14.5 Billion in 2023

The total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in Saudi Arabia marked a 33% increase. SPA
The total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in Saudi Arabia marked a 33% increase. SPA
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Non-Profit Sector Revenue in Saudi Arabia Reaches $14.5 Billion in 2023

The total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in Saudi Arabia marked a 33% increase. SPA
The total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in Saudi Arabia marked a 33% increase. SPA

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has said that the total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in the Kingdom amounted to SAR54.4 billion ($14.5 Billion) in 2023, marking a 33% increase compared to 2022.

The results, shown in the Non-Profit Sector Bulletin for 2023, indicated that health-related activities recorded the highest growth rate compared to the previous year, contributing 70% of the total revenue of the non-profit sector organizations, followed by education and research activities with a 53% increase, and volunteer brokerage and promotion activities with a 36% rise. These activities were the main contributors to the total revenue of non-profit organizations.

The bulletin also revealed that total expenditures of the non-profit sector reached SAR47 billion in 2023. Health-related activities represented the highest expenditure category, showing a 74% increase, followed by education and research activities with a 55% rise, and environmental activities with a 34% increase compared to 2022. These activities were the leading contributors to the total expenditures of non-profit organizations.

The figures also underscored the relative contribution of employed individuals to key activities within the non-profit sector in 2023. Cultural and entertainment activities led with a 27.6%, followed by social services activities at 27.2%, development and housing activities at 12.4%, health activities at 11.5%, and education and research activities at 7.5%. The remaining non-profit sector activities accounted for the remaining 13.8%.