🏦Registering a Fintech Company in the UAE: A Step-by-Step Guide
The United Arab Emirates is rapidly transforming into a global fintech center. According to DIFC, investments in the UAE fintech sector exceeded $615 million in 2022, and the number of active fintech companies grew by 36%. The projections are even more impressive: the MEASA region’s fintech market is set to double from $135.9 billion in 2021 to $266.9 billion by 2027.
Behind these numbers lies a complex regulatory environment with numerous jurisdictions, license types, and compliance requirements. At FinTech-Assist, we’ve helped over 25 fintech companies successfully launch in the UAE. In this guide, we share practical insights and a step-by-step roadmap.
The first and most crucial decision is selecting the right jurisdiction. You have three main options:
Benefits:
- English common law and independent courts
- 0% corporate tax for revenue under AED 375,000
- 100% foreign ownership
- RegLab sandbox program for innovation testing
- Advanced banking infrastructure
Best suited for:
- Payment services and UAE analogs of European EMIs
- Crypto-related projects
- Asset management
- InsurTech
Capital Requirements: From $10,000 to $10M, depending on the license type
Benefits:
- Largest financial center in the region
- Access to an ecosystem of 686+ fintech companies
- FinTech Hive accelerator for startups
- Preferential rates for tech startups (2–4 years)
Best suited for:
- B2B fintech solutions
- Trading platforms
- RegTech & SupTech
- Islamic fintech
Capital Requirements: $50,000 to $2M
Benefits:
- Direct access to the local market
- Ability to operate in dirhams
- Lower operating costs
Best suited for:
- Local payment services
- Money transfers
- Retail financial services
Minimum Capital: AED 15 million for an SVF license
License Type | Jurisdiction | Minimum Capital | Time to Obtain |
Payment Services Provider | ADGM | $250,000 | 3–4 months |
Electronic Money Institution | DIFC | $2,000,000 | 4–6 months |
Stored Value Facility | Mainland | AED 15,000,000 | 6–8 months |
Crypto Asset Services | ADGM | $125,000 | 3–4 months |
Digital Banking | ADGM/DIFC | $10,000,000 | 8–12 months |
Crowdfunding Platform | ADGM | $50,000 | 2–3 months |
📌 Note: Timelines depend heavily on your readiness and the completeness of your project.
Step 1: Preliminary Preparation
- Define your business model and activities
- Prepare a detailed 3-year business plan
- Assemble your key team members
- Develop AML/KYC policies
💡 Important: 60% of applicants make mistakes at this stage—typically choosing the wrong license type.
Step 2: License Application Submission
- Completed application forms
- Business plan with financial forecasts
- CVs and identity documents of all key persons (including SOF)
- Proof of funds and capital origin
- AML/KYC policies and 30+ governance documents
💡 Pro Tip from FinTech-Assist: Get early professional consultation—it can save months.
Step 3: Due Diligence & Interview Regulators assess:
- Founders’ experience and reputation
- Business model soundness
- Risk management systems
- IT and cybersecurity
- AML/CFT compliance
❗ Common rejection reasons:
- Inexperienced team (35% of refusals)
- Weak AML/KYC (28%)
- Unrealistic business plans (22%)
Step 4: In-Principle Approval After successful due diligence:
- Receive conditional approval
- Get a list of final approval requirements
- Fulfill requirements within specified deadlines
Step 5: Fulfillment & Final Approval Typical requirements:
- Capital deposit
- Hiring key personnel
- Office lease
- IT systems setup
- Corporate bank account opening
- Banking Access❗Challenge: Many fintechs get rejected at the bank onboarding stage✅ Solution:Engage with banks earlyPrepare enhanced due diligenceConsider EMIs or accounts in alternative jurisdictionsLeverage advisors for regulator communication
- ❗Challenge: Many fintechs get rejected at the bank onboarding stage
- ✅ Solution:Engage with banks earlyPrepare enhanced due diligenceConsider EMIs or accounts in alternative jurisdictionsLeverage advisors for regulator communication
- Engage with banks early
- Prepare enhanced due diligence
- Consider EMIs or accounts in alternative jurisdictions
- Leverage advisors for regulator communication
- Local Presence RequirementsPlan for 2–3 local hiresBudget for a physical officeAppoint a local compliance officer
- Plan for 2–3 local hires
- Budget for a physical office
- Appoint a local compliance officer
- Hidden CostsLicense fees: $15,000–50,000Legal: $20,000–80,000Office & staff: from $30,000Audit & compliance: $20,000–40,000
- License fees: $15,000–50,000
- Legal: $20,000–80,000
- Office & staff: from $30,000
- Audit & compliance: $20,000–40,000
Metric | UAE | Singapore | UK | Lithuania |
License Timeline | 3–6 months | 6–9 months | 9–12 months | 3–4 months |
Capital Requirements | $125k–10M | $250k–5M | £50k–5M | €125k–350k |
Corporate Tax | 0–9% | 17% | 19% | 15% |
Banking Access | Difficult | Moderate | Easy | Moderate |
Crypto Regulation | Progressive | Strict | Evolving | Liberal |
- Start 6 months in advance Realistic launch timeline: 8–12 months
- Invest in the right team Former regulators and senior compliance officers boost approval odds
- Don’t skimp on legal support Strong documents upfront can save $50,000+ and 3–4 months
- Leverage sandbox programs ADGM RegLab & DIFC Hive allow for relaxed testing environments
- Plan for scale early UAE licenses open access to GCC markets—build with expansion in mind
Company A (DIY approach):
- Took 8 months
- Re-submitted 3 times
- Total cost: $280,000
- Got a limited license
Company B (with FinTech-Assist):
- Licensed in 3.5 months
- One submission
- Total cost: $120,000
- Got a full license
- Detailed business plan with unit economics
- Experienced team (5+ years in fintech)
- Verified capital source
- Developed IT architecture
- AML/KYC/CFT policies (30+ docs)
- Minimum budget: $200,000
- Commitment to physical presence in the UAE
Article prepared by Fintech-Assist experts.
Meta description: A step-by-step guide to registering a fintech company in the UAE in 2025. Comparison of ADGM, DIFC, and Mainland UAE, license types, capital requirements, and expert tips.
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