Money Services Business Licence in United Arab Emirates
Middle East remittance hub. CBUAE regulated. Capital from AED 2M+. Typical timeline 6 to 12 months.
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Tell us the business, the markets and your timing. Every enquiry is answered the same business day, with a written proposal: the licence, the requirements, the cost and the timeline.
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Why United Arab Emirates for Your Money Services Business Licence?
The UAE is one of the world's largest outbound remittance markets, making it a strategic hub for money transfer businesses.
The CBUAE regulates money exchange and remittance businesses. The UAE is one of the world's largest remittance corridors, particularly for transfers to South Asia and the Philippines.
Licence requirements
Detailed requirements
Minimum capital from AED 2 million. Local sponsor or free zone incorporation. AML/CFT compliance, governance, and operational requirements.
Application process
Regulatory Strategy
We assess your business model and regulatory position to develop a clear licensing strategy.
Business Plan
We prepare a comprehensive business plan meeting the regulator's expectations.
Programme of Operations
Detailed programme of operations covering governance, compliance, and operational arrangements.
Compliance Framework
Full AML/CFT framework, compliance monitoring programme, and risk management policies.
Application Submission
We compile and submit the complete application package to the regulator.
Regulator Review
We manage all regulator communications and information requests during the review period.
Authorisation
Upon approval, we support your transition to live operations.
Process detail
6 to 12 months.
United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom
| Criteria | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | AED 2M+ | No requirement |
| Timeline | 6 to 12 months | 1 to 3 months |
| Regulator | CBUAE | HMRC |
| Key Feature | Middle East remittance hub | Straightforward registration, AML focus |
Related services
Licensing & Authorisation
Full-service licensing advisory from strategy to authorisation.
Compliance Support
Ongoing compliance frameworks tailored to your regulatory obligations.
Financial Crime
AML, KYC and financial crime prevention programmes.
Ready to get started?
Every enquiry is answered the same business day, with a written proposal.
Speak to a licensing expertFrequently asked questions
The capital requirement for a money services business licence in United Arab Emirates is AED 2M+. Minimum capital from AED 2 million. Local sponsor or free zone incorporation. AML/CFT compliance, governance, and operational requirements.
The typical timeline for a money services business licence in United Arab Emirates is 6 to 12 months. 6 to 12 months.
The UAE is one of the world's largest outbound remittance markets, making it a strategic hub for money transfer businesses.
After receiving your money services business licence in United Arab Emirates, you must maintain ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements including safeguarding of customer funds, regular regulatory reporting, maintaining adequate capital, updating AML and compliance frameworks, and cooperating with supervisory reviews and inspections.
Most jurisdictions require local substance for a money services business licence. In United Arab Emirates, you will typically need a registered office, at least one locally resident director, and potentially additional operational staff. We can advise on the exact requirements and help you establish the minimum viable local presence.
A money services business licence in United Arab Emirates provides access to the domestic market. Middle East remittance hub. Separate authorisation may be required for other jurisdictions.