Hedieh Molavi

Level Up: Unlocking Financial Potential In The Middle East

Welcome to this edition of Law Update, where we focus on the ever-evolving landscape of financial services regulation across the region. As the financial markets in the region continue to grow and diversify, this issue provides timely insights into the key regulatory developments shaping banking, investment, insolvency, and emerging technologies.

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Eyes
On 2025

Legal Updates in
Middle East & North Africa

2025 is set to be a game-changer for the MENA region, with legal and regulatory shifts from 2024 continuing to reshape its economic landscape. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain are all implementing groundbreaking reforms in sustainable financing, investment laws, labor regulations, and dispute resolution. As the region positions itself for deeper global integration, businesses must adapt to a rapidly evolving legal environment.

Our Eyes on 2025 publication provides essential insights and practical guidance on the key legal updates shaping the year ahead—equipping you with the knowledge to stay ahead in this dynamic market.

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Biography

Hedieh is a DFSA registered Compliance Officer/MLRO actively providing regulatory consultancy services in and from DIFC and ADGM to a number of local and global financial service providers within the past decade. As a regulatory consultant at Al Tamimi and Company, she specializes in establishing regulated and unregulated entities in the DIFC and ADGM with a strong focus on Financial Advisory, Asset Management/Fund Management, Private Banking, Corporate Banking, and Brokerage activities, etc.

Recent Experience

She has established (or has been involved in establishment of) over 40 entities in the DIFC since 2015 under DFSA Prudential Category 1, 2, 3A, 3C, 4, Rep Offices, and DNFBPs including waivers or endorsements in respect of Client Assets or Retail permissions.
She has carried out regulatory due diligence on a number of authorised firms in the DIFC and has led the regulatory approval process for change in control and acquisitions within a large number of international institutions in the DIFC.
She has carried out the outsourced Compliance Officer/MLRO function for multiple regulated financial institutions (including branches of international banks) in the DIFC within the past few years and is familiar with the regulatory framework within the DIFC as well as the ADGM.
As an outsourced CO/MLRO, she was responsible for identifying the key risks involved in business and assisting the firms in developing and implementing risk-based compliance control frameworks and monitoring programmes.
She handles interfacing with the DFSA and FSRA authorities on behalf of the firms and has been in charge of preparation of regulatory business plans, advising firms on their licensing needs including their corporate governance structure, high level controls, and other regulatory obligations within the financial freezones in the UAE.