The big picture
Saudi fintech surge, a new CMA licence, and Oman's MSX outpacing all GCC peers dominate Aug 11.
Why it matters
Gulf expats face a shifting financial landscape: Saudi Arabia is opening regulated private-market investing to qualified investors, Oman's bourse is delivering rare positive returns, and a global CBDC platform linking the UAE and Saudi Arabia is entering China's five-year plan — raising compliance questions for cross-border money movers.
The details
Fintechtime
SAMA co-hosts: Money20/20 Returns to Riyadh With 38,000+ Attendees as Saudi Fintech Scales. Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), CMA, and the Insurance Authority are co-hosting the 2026 Money20/20 Middle East conference, cementing Riyadh's role as a top-tier global fintech venue.
Read at Fintechtime ->
Cairo Scene
CMA licensed: Saudi Platform OORI Wins CMA Licence for Shariah-Compliant Private-Market Access. Riyadh-based OORI secured a Capital Market Authority licence to arrange and advise on private investments, targeting qualified investors across pre-seed to pre-IPO tech deals.
Read at Cairo Scene ->
Times of Oman
MSX leads GCC: Muscat Stock Exchange Up 24% YTD While Every Other GCC Bourse Is in the Red. Oman's MSX is the region's sole positive performer in 2026, rising 24% year-to-date as Saudi Tadawul, Dubai's DFM, Qatar's QE 20, and Bahrain all trade in negative territory.
Read at Times of Oman ->
What to watch
Money20/20 Middle East's three-day Riyadh programme — backed by SAMA, CMA, and the Insurance Authority — is a live regulatory signalling event worth tracking for new licensing or open-banking announcements.
The Gulf Money digest surfaces reported news from third-party publications. We do not republish the stories themselves - every headline above links to the original source so you can read the publisher's own coverage.