In order to conduct Financial Services in or from the DIFC, firms need to become authorised and obtain a licence from the DFSA. To conduct a Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession in or from the DIFC, firms need to be registered by the DFSA. As a risk-based regulator, the DFSA conducts initial assessments to ensure firms adhere to the DFSA’s standards of conduct and business.

In order to conduct Financial Services in or from the Dubai International Financial Centre, individuals or entities need to seek authorisation from the DFSA. Authorisation is given in the form of a licence which is issued electronically by the DFSA, and specifies the type of Financial Services that can be conducted.

Authorized Firms

In order to conduct Financial Services in or from the Dubai International Financial Centre, entities need to seek authorisation from the DFSA. Authorisation is given in the form of a licence which is issued by the DFSA, and specifies the type of Financial Services that can be conducted.

Steps to Licensing
In the first instance, we strongly recommend that prospective applicants engage with members of the Business Development Team of The DIFC Authority who will help you understand the value proposition of the DIFC to assist your evaluation of whether a presence here will make business sense for your firm.
Some firms go straight to attempting to complete the application forms. This often results in a poor application and can lengthen the application process. Here are some recommended preparation steps:
- Decide what type of business you want to carry out and check which Financial Services you will need to apply for.
- Determine who will be part of the senior management and who will fulfil the mandatory positions. Prepare to complete the necessary individual application forms.
- Develop a comprehensive Regulatory Business Plan that sets out your proposed activities, 3-year financial projections and budget, resources such as human, control systems, IT/cyber infrastructure and financial. This can be shared with the DFSA Authorisation Enquiries Team who will be happy to comment on your proposal.
- Familiarise yourself with the applicable rules from the DFSA Rulebook and be prepared to show how you will comply with those rules. This will include providing a compliance manual, a compliance monitoring programme, and risk management policies.
-Determine your minimum regulatory capital requirements, with which you will need to comply at all times. This should be included in your 3-year financial projections.

Authorized Individuals

Authorised Individuals are the officers or Employees who carry out defined Licensed Functions within an Authorised Firm.
These functions are materially linked to an Authorised Firm’s management, and/or the provision of its Financial Services. As a result, Authorised Individuals must meet particular standards relating to their experience, knowledge and qualifications.
A firm must make separate online applications for each individual it wishes to become authorised. Please contact the Authorisation Enquiries Team ahead of making an application.
Applicants will only be authorised if the DFSA is satisfied that they are Fit and Proper, and that the functions of their role will be conducted and managed in a sound and prudent manner.

Authorised Market Institution

An Authorised Market Institution (AMI) is an exchange or a clearing house in the DIFC that is licensed and regulated by the DFSA.
There are currently two AMIs in the DIFC, namely the NASDAQ Dubai (formerly known as DIFX) and the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME).

Registered Auditor

The role and duty of a Registered Auditor is intended to enhance investor confidence, ensuring the financial statements in the DIFC comply with the required financial reporting standards and give a true and fair view of the financial position of the entity being audited.
Public Listed Companies, Domestic Authorised Firms, Authorised Market Institutions and Domestic Funds are required to appoint an auditor which is registered with the DFSA.
Refer to the Public Register for a list of the Registered Auditors and Audit Principals or get in touch with the DFSA if you have any queries. Also refer to the Auditor (AUD) Module of the DFSA Rulebook and the Regulatory Policy and Process Sourcebook.

Registered Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession(DNFBP)

A business or profession, who is not an Authorised Person or an Auditor, and is carrying on the below business or profession in or from the DIFC, is a Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession (DNFBP);
- Real estate developers or agents which carry out transactions with a customer involving the buying or selling of real property;
- Dealers in precious metals or precious stones;
- Law firms, notary firms, or other independent legal businesses;
- Accounting, audit, or insolvency firms;
- Single Family Offices;
- Company service providers, who are not otherwise a DNFBP. A company service provider is a person that, by way of business, provides any of the following services to a customer:
~Acting as a formation agent of legal persons
~Acting as (or arranging for another person to act as) a director or secretary of a company, a partner of a partnership, or a similar position in relation to other legal persons;
~Providing a registered office, business address or accommodation, correspondence or administrative address for a company, a partnership or any other legal person or arrangement;
~Acting as (or arranging for another person to act as) a nominee shareholder for another person.

For all other inquiries, please refer to the Contact Uspage.