By Komal Jajoo, Managing Partner and CEO, Hayford

For years, regulation was something most professionals did not think about every day.

It existed, of course. Policies, rules, compliance departments, audits. But for many people, it stayed in the background. You focused on your job, delivered results, built experience, and trusted that the system around you would handle the rest.

In my conversations with professionals across the UAE, I have noticed that this is no longer how things feel. Regulation has moved much closer to the individual. And whether people realize it or not, it is starting to shape careers in very real ways.

I often hear professionals say they feel a new kind of pressure. Not necessarily because their jobs are harder, but because the consequences of small gaps in understanding seem bigger than before. A simple oversight, a misunderstood requirement, or outdated knowledge can now have wider implications.

That changes how people experience their work.

The Responsibility Feels More Personal Now

With VAT, Corporate Tax, evolving AML frameworks, and stricter reporting standards, responsibility is no longer something that sits comfortably at the top of an organization.

It touches daily decisions. A finance professional approving an expense. An HR manager handling employee information. A consultant advising a client. None of these actions feel unusual, but each one now sits within a regulatory context.

From what I see, the professionals who handle this well are not the ones who know every rule. They are the ones who are aware that the rules matter. They are more careful with assumptions. They ask questions earlier. They are less likely to say, “This is how we have always done it.”

That awareness makes a difference that is not always visible, but very real.

Experience Alone No Longer Feels Like Enough

The UAE has always valued experience, and rightly so. But I meet many experienced professionals who quietly admit they feel uncertain when regulations change.

They worry about missing something. They double check more often. Sometimes they avoid decisions because they are not sure how a rule applies. This is not about competence. It is about confidence.

The professionals who seem more at ease are usually the ones who keep themselves updated. Not in an extreme way, but consistently. They treat learning as part of staying responsible in their role.

Over time, that steady habit seems to translate into stronger career stability.

Trust Is Being Shaped Differently

Another change I notice in organizations is how trust is built. In the past, a strong track record was often enough. Now, reliability is linked to awareness. Employers and clients feel more comfortable with professionals who understand the environment they are operating in.

This does not mean everyone needs to be a regulatory expert. But being completely disconnected from compliance expectations is becoming risky. It affects how people are perceived, especially when roles involve decision making or oversight.

In subtle ways, regulation is influencing who is seen as dependable.

The Emotional Side That People Rarely Talk About

One thing professionals tell me privately is how much calmer they feel when they understand the regulatory side of their work.

Uncertainty creates stress. Not knowing whether you are missing something can weigh on people, even if they do not say it openly. On the other hand, when someone feels informed, they carry themselves differently. There is less hesitation, less second guessing.

That sense of control is often overlooked, but it is a powerful professional advantage.

Learning Is Becoming Part of Professional Responsibility

I see a gradual shift in how people think about learning. It is less about collecting certificates and more about staying aligned with expectations.

When professionals invest time in understanding regulations and compliance, they are not just building knowledge. They are strengthening judgment. Most real situations are not black and white. People still need to interpret and decide.

Education supports that process. It helps professionals make decisions with more clarity and less guesswork.

A Quiet Career Advantage

Those who stay updated do not always talk about it. But it shows.They are more confident in meetings where risk or governance comes up. They are trusted with more responsibility. They adapt more easily when something changes.

In a market like the UAE, where standards continue to rise, this adaptability is becoming a key career advantage.

Regulation may not be the most exciting topic. But from what I see every day, it is quietly shaping who feels confident, who is trusted, and who moves forward smoothly in their career.

Not because they know everything, but because they understand that staying informed is part of being responsible. And increasingly, responsibility is what defines professional credibility.