Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority has approved a regulatory framework for equity crowdfunding.

They have issued an appropriate Decision to this effect.

Under the Decision, the Capital Market Institutions Regulations, Investment Accounts Instructions, Rules on the Offer of Securities and Continuing Obligations and the Glossary of Defined Terms Used in The Regulations and Rules of the Capital Market Authority have been amended.

They will allow Capital Market Institutions who are authorised to arrange activities to offer securities via Equity Crowdfunding platforms and hold their clients’ money in the course of securities crowdfunding.

They also specify the requirements for custody of clients’ money received by capital market institutions which are authorised to carry out arranging activities in the course of carrying out securities crowdfunding and opening and operating investment accounts.

They aim to support financial technology innovations in the capital market by setting out a regulatory framework for equity crowdfunding, including determining the requisite authorisation for capital market institutions to carry it out and enabling companies which have a Financial Technology Experimental Permit (FinTech ExPermit) to obtain the appropriate authorisation to practice as a capital market institution, in line with the relevant international best practices.

The amendments will come into force on their published date.

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