Authorisation in the ADGM
Guiding You Through ADGM Authorisation
As a financial free zone, the ADGM offers a favourable environment for organisations seeking to establish a presence in the UAE. However, obtaining the necessary authorisations and licences can be a challenging endeavour, requiring a deep understanding of the ADGM’s regulations, compliance requirements, and application procedures.
Our UAE Authorisation team specialises in helping clients navigate these intricacies, providing guidance and support throughout the authorisation process.
What is the ADGM?
The ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) is a Financial Free Zone within the UAE with its own civil and commercial laws as well as its own financial services regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA”).
Any business established in the ADGM can have 100% foreign ownership and is subject to a civil, commercial and regulatory environment similar to that established in the United Kingdom.
Does your business need to be regulated by the FSRA?
Anyone providing a financial service from a permanent place of business in the ADGM must be regulated by the FSRA. This includes, but is not limited to:
- banks
- brokers and dealers
- asset managers
- corporate financiers
- wealth managers
- insurers and insurance intermediaries
- as well as some of the less traditional financial services relating to virtual assets, private financing platforms, sometimes known as crowdfunding platforms, and money service providers
The type of business you wish to undertake will define the category of FSRA licence you will require and subsequently the amount of capital you will be required to hold.
What are the advantages of setting up a business in the ADGM?
Setting up a business in ADGM offers several advantages, including 100% foreign ownership, access to a well-regulated financial services environment, a strategic location in the UAE, a supportive business infrastructure, and tax efficiencies.
Why Choose Waystone Compliance Solutions?
We have a proven and successful track record of financial services licensing applications in the region. We work with you to coordinate and project manage the entire application from start to finish, giving you clear guidance at each stage of the process.
Post-authorisation, our highly-experienced Middle East Compliance consultants can provide ongoing compliance advice, training on specific governance, risk and compliance issues, undertake independent monitoring reviews and can even act as your Compliance Officer and/or Money Laundering Reporting Officer (“MLRO”) on an outsourced basis, to ensure compliance with ADGM regulation.
Find out more about:
Setting up in the ADGM
Our guide to ADGM company setup provides further details and insights on the application and ADGM authorisation process, including:
- ADGM licence categories
- restrictions on doing business from the ADGM and ADGM compliance
- the application process
- mandatory appointments.
Need assistance with the ADGM register process? Contact a Waystone Compliance Solutions representative today to learn more about our Authorisation services.
Variations of Permission
Do you have the right ADGM FSRA licence and regulatory permissions for your regulated business?
Private Financing Platforms in the ADGM
A Private Financing Platform (“PFP”) enables peer to peer investment and is primarily aimed at private companies, such as startups and small to medium enterprises (“SMEs”) to source alternative financing from private and institutional investors.
ADGM Virtual Assets
This innovative regime meets both the demand from this developing industry as well as the need for consumer protection.