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Fintech licence in the UAE

Payments, lending, insurtech and financial software. The line that decides your route is whether you hold client funds or provide regulated financial services. Pure software sold to financial institutions can sit in a technology zone; anything customer-facing and financial needs DFSA, FSRA or central bank authorisation.

What to know first

  • Holding client money requires full financial services authorisation.
  • Both DIFC and ADGM operate innovation testing licences with reduced requirements for early-stage firms.
  • Payment services may fall under Central Bank of the UAE rather than a financial centre.

Suitable free zones

DIFC

Dubai

An English common-law jurisdiction inside Dubai, for regulated finance and family offices.

From
AED 73,450
Setup
20–90 d
Max visas
∞

ADGM

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's common-law financial centre, an alternative to DIFC.

From
AED 21,300
Setup
20–90 d
Max visas
∞

DIC

Dubai

The region's established tech cluster — Microsoft, Google, Meta and the startups around them.

Est. from
≈ AED 28,000
Setup
10–25 d
Max visas
∞
Your licence category decides your tax rate. Worth a conversation before you incorporate.

Your quotation within one working day

Four details are all we need. We come back with a firm quotation, the recommended free zone and the reasons for it.

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