UAE CMA and MEIRA launch investor relations program for Emiratis

The UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA) and the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA) have launched a new programme to build Emirati expertise in investor relations and strengthen professional capabilities across the country’s capital markets.

Announced during the MEIRA Annual Conference in Dubai, the Emirati Investor Relations Development Program will provide UAE nationals with structured training, regulatory knowledge and internationally recognized qualifications in investor relations.

The initiative combines MEIRA’s Certified Investor Relations Officer (CIRO) qualification pathway with UAE-specific regulatory content and assessments developed in collaboration with the CMA. Participants will receive in-person CIRO training alongside a dedicated UAE Financial Regulatory Module, with the program tailored to participants’ professional backgrounds.

“Strong capital markets depend on skilled professionals who understand the importance of strategic communication, transparency and effective engagement with investors,” said Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, Chief Executive Officer of the UAE Capital Market Authority.

He added that strengthening investor relations expertise would improve engagement between companies and investors, reinforce market discipline and contribute to the long-term resilience of the UAE’s capital markets.

The first cohort is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 and will include UAE nationals working at entities regulated by the CMA. Training will be delivered through a mix of in-person and hybrid formats, including sessions hosted at the authority’s premises.

Over time, the program aims to train more than 100 professionals, focusing on creating long-term career pathways for Emiratis in investor relations and capital markets.

Under the partnership, the CMA will contribute regulatory expertise, program localization and training facilities, while MEIRA will lead programme delivery and provide access to internationally recognized certification in collaboration with the UK Investor Relations Society.

The two organizations also plan to establish a dedicated talent pool of program graduates, accessible to listed companies seeking investor relations professionals.

“This partnership with the CMA exemplifies the strategic collaboration MEIRA was established to foster nearly two decades ago,” said Reza Eftekhari, Chief Executive Officer of MEIRA.

He said the programme would combine MEIRA’s professional development framework with the CMA’s regulatory expertise to raise standards in investor relations and create new opportunities for Emirati professionals.

The initiative is part of a broader collaboration between the CMA and MEIRA to strengthen professional capabilities and investor relations standards across listed and regulated entities in the UAE.

Details on applications, nominations, and participating corporate partners for the first cohort are expected to be announced at a later stage.