Regulation
Regulatory change across the jurisdictions we cover, with what it means and what to do.
Who owns this company? The disclosure rules arriving in Mauritius and the Seychelles
Both Indian Ocean centres legislated this year to record more about the people behind companies, partnerships and trusts. The first deadline falls on 31 December.
RAKEZ: police clearance now required for ten more nationalities
Since 20 July 2026, applicants from ten more countries need a Good Conduct Certificate for a new RAKEZ employee or investor visa, following an update from the ICP. The RAKEZ list now covers twenty-four nationalities.
FSC launches a Register of Trusts: existing trusts must be loaded by 15 January 2027
The Financial Services Commission has opened a Register of Trusts that the public cannot see. Every Qualified Trustee must load basic and beneficial ownership information for each trust it administers by 15 January 2027, and from then on report changes within five working days.
Hong Kong annual returns can now be filed with iAM Smart+ without an e-filing account
Since 17 August 2026, a director or company secretary who holds the government's iAM Smart+ digital identity can file a local company's annual return, or its change of registered office, without registering for e-filing. Access to that identity depends on holding a Hong Kong Identity Card.
Panama and Viet Nam leave the EU tax blacklist; eight jurisdictions remain
The Council of the EU has moved Panama and Viet Nam from Annex I to Annex II of its list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions. Eight jurisdictions remain on the list itself, and none of the main business hubs is among them.
FATF removes Bulgaria, Monaco, Côte d'Ivoire and the DRC from the grey list; Vietnam stays
The FATF plenary that ended on 30 October removed four jurisdictions from its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring and added none, according to press reports. Vietnam stays listed, and the call-for-action list is unchanged.
The crypto transparency clock: what 1 January 2027 means for crypto businesses in the hubs we cover
Tax authorities are about to exchange information on crypto-asset users much as they already exchange bank account data. For most of the hubs we cover, collecting that data starts in seven weeks.
Capital Market Authority: the one-year window to adjust status closes at the end of 2026
Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2025 gives firms within its scope one year from 1 January 2026 to adjust their status. The perimeter reaches free zone businesses and offshore firms targeting UAE clients, virtual asset activity included.
VARA sets out what an audit of client reserve assets must cover
A VARA circular of 6 October 2026 sets a seven-point minimum scope for independent audits of client reserve assets, running from wallet coverage to rehypothecation. It follows VARA's review of the Proof of Reserve Assets reports filed in 2025.
New Central Bank operational risk regulation in force
Circular C 1/2026, the Operational Risk Management Regulation, has applied since 14 September 2026 and replaces the 2018 regime. It brings hard deadlines for incident notification, a UAE data residency rule, and prior Central Bank sign-off for material changes and critical outsourcing.
DFSA folds prudential forms into B110 and revises credit rating agency rules
From 2 October 2026, DFSA prudential reporting forms B120 and B180 fold into a redesigned form B110, following Consultation Paper No. 174. More principles-based conflict of interest rules for credit rating agencies follow on 1 January 2027.
Minimum tax: investment funds excluded, filing date clarified, late-payment penalty halved
The Finance Act 2026 adjusts Mauritius's Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax. Investment funds and real estate investment vehicles are now excluded only where they are the ultimate parent entity, the return deadline is tied to the month in which the fiscal year ends, and the penalty falls to 2.5 per cent.
MAS consults on legislation for its stablecoin framework
The Monetary Authority of Singapore has published draft amendments to the Payment Services Act 2019 that would give its single-currency stablecoin framework a statutory footing. Comments closed on 16 October 2026.
Companies House identity checks: the transition for existing companies is ending
Identity verification for directors and people with significant control has been compulsory since 18 November 2025. The 12-month transition for existing companies runs out next month, and UK subsidiaries managed from abroad are the most likely to miss it.
UAE e-invoicing goes live on 1 January: what changed in October, and what did not
Businesses have until 30 October to appoint a service provider. The go-live date for the largest of them sits where it was. What the Ministry of Finance has done instead is remove two rules that shaped how groups built their finance function.
UAE extends Small Business Relief to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029
Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 keeps corporate tax Small Business Relief, and its AED 3 million revenue test, running for three more years. The conditions are unchanged.
Pillar Two in the UAE: registration deadlines set, information return rules in force
UAE entities of large multinational groups face their first top-up tax registration deadline on 30 November 2026, and missing it costs AED 10,000. FTA Decision No. 12 of 2026 sets the registration deadlines, Ministerial Decision No. 133 of 2026 says which entities file the Pillar Two Information Return, and the Federal Tax Authority's new guide explains both.
UAE banks must give SMEs a Key Facts Statement and 60 days' notice of changes
The Central Bank's SME Customer Protection Regulation has applied since 13 September 2026. It gives small and medium-sized business customers consumer-style rules on disclosure, fees and complaints.
Management services to global business entities move from zero-rated to VAT-exempt
From 1 October 2026, services supplied by Mauritius management companies to Global Business Licence holders and to qualifying trusts and foundations are exempt from VAT rather than zero-rated. The difference matters because an exempt supply carries no right to recover the VAT paid on costs.
FSC stops accepting applications for Managed Corporate Service Providers
The Financial Services Commission has suspended its Managed Corporate Service Provider policy and revoked the 2005 Practice Notes on which it rested. MCSPs past three years of operation have up to one year to apply to become full Management Companies.
FSA reminds IBCs that incorporation is not a licence
The Seychelles Financial Services Authority has reminded International Business Companies that registration under the IBC Act 2016 does not authorise regulated business. An IBC active abroad must say who licenses it, or stop.