26/07/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 25 July, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) withdrew the recognition decisions of the three clearing houses (CCPs) established in the United Arab Emirates, including the Dubai International Financial Centre: Dubai Commodities Clearing Corporation, Dubai Clear LLC and Nasdaq Dubai Ltd. In accordance with the ‘EMIR’ regulation on European capital markets infrastructure, ESMA had to make this withdrawal following the addition by the European Commission in March of the United Arab Emirates to the ‘blacklist’ of high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies in their national anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing regimes (see EUROPE 13113/13). To minimise potential market disruption, ESMA has provided for a three-month adjustment period. The decisions to withdraw recognition will therefore come into force on Wednesday 25 October. (AD)