Riyadh: The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has announced the start of receiving applications for authorization to carry out commodity exchange activities in the Saudi Market for a period of 123 days, beginning on July 1, 2026, and concluding on October 31, 2026.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the CMA's initiative to open the application submission period is aimed at strengthening the capital market infrastructure, expanding the range of financial instruments in the Saudi Capital Market, and diversifying its products. The CMA plans to grant one license to operate as a Commodity Exchange in the Kingdom during this application period. This strategy aligns with the structure of the capital market while considering investor confidence and ensuring the stability of licensed markets. The focus during this period will be on trading in a secondary market for commodity and metals derivatives contracts, enhancing its appeal and benefiting market participants, thereby solidifying its position in global capital markets.

The commencement of the application submission period follows the revised Capital Market Law dated September 18, 2019, and an earlier CMA announcement on July 18, 2022, regarding the approval of the Securities Exchanges and Depository Centers Regulations. This announcement had indicated that the CMA would later determine the periods for submitting authorization applications for securities exchanges and depository centers, as well as the mechanism for submitting them.

The CMA is inviting all parties interested in conducting Commodity Exchange activities in the Kingdom to submit an application for authorization. The application should specifically pertain to carrying out Commodity Exchange activities in accordance with the authorization requirements stated in the Securities Exchanges and Depository Centers Regulations, using the designated application form.

For more details regarding authorization during the current period, including the application submission mechanism, requirements, and procedures, interested parties are advised to refer to the document titled 'Authorization to Carry Out Commodity Exchange Activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia'. Furthermore, inquiries from interested parties will be addressed by the CMA's Market Infrastructure Institutions Supervision Department through the email: [email protected].