UAE financial regulation: CMA, DFSA, FSRA and tax guides
UAE financial regulation depends on the legal entity and where it is authorised. The CMA oversees the federal and onshore capital-markets framework. The DFSA regulates financial services in the DIFC, and the FSRA regulates financial services in ADGM. Other activities may be regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE or by Dubai’s VARA, depending on the service and jurisdiction. The same brand can use different entities for different clients, so check which entity your agreement names. The broker’s brand and website badges do not tell you this.
By Braden Chase · Fact-checked by Tomislav Turcin · Last Updated On: 19 Oct 2026
UAE regulators
Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA)
The regulator for Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), a financial free zone.
Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
The regulator for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a financial free zone.
Capital Market Authority (CMA)
The federal onshore regulator, which succeeded the SCA on 1 January 2026.
2026 update: On 1 January 2026 the Capital Market Authority (CMA) became the legal successor to the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2025. The change was more than a new name. Transitional arrangements apply and a one-year transition period is in force, so do not assume that a firm’s prior licence, activity or conditions are unchanged. Check the current CMA record. We write “CMA (formerly SCA)” throughout. Source: CMA ↗
How to check a broker before you fund
- Find the legal entity, not the brand. Your client agreement or terms name the company that will hold your account and where it is authorised. A brand can use different entities for different clients.
- Find its reference number and open the official register of the regulator that authorised that entity. A search snippet or the broker’s own badge does not replace that check.
- Match the record exactly. If anything below does not match, or there is no reference number at all, treat it as a warning sign.
- Exact legal entitythe name on the register matches the company on your client agreement, character for character.
- Current statusthe authorisation is active today, and the register does not show it as withdrawn, suspended or lapsed.
- Authorised activitythe permission covers what the firm will do for you. Dealing, arranging and providing custody are separate permissions; holding one does not imply the others.
- Jurisdiction and client categorythe entity may serve clients like you, where you live. If you are a retail client, its permission must not be limited to professional clients.
- Restrictions and warningsthere are no conditions, restrictions or public warnings on the record that affect your account.
Official registersCMA (formerly SCA) ↗DFSA (DIFC) ↗FSRA (ADGM) ↗
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Frequently asked questions
Who regulates trading and investment in the UAE?
It depends on the legal entity and where it is authorised. The CMA (formerly SCA) oversees the federal and onshore capital-markets framework, the DFSA regulates financial services in the DIFC, and the FSRA regulates financial services in ADGM. Banking and payments are regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), and virtual-asset services in Dubai by VARA. Check which legal entity will serve you, because the brand name alone does not tell you.
What happened to the SCA in 2026?
On 1 January 2026 the Capital Market Authority (CMA) became the legal successor to the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The change was made under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2025, and Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2025 sets the capital-markets framework. It was more than a new name. Transitional arrangements apply, with a one-year transition period, so do not assume that a firm’s prior licence, activity or conditions are unchanged. Older sources may still say “SCA”. We write “CMA (formerly SCA)”.
How do I check if my broker is actually regulated?
Find the legal entity named in your client agreement. Look up its reference number on the official register of the regulator that authorised it, then check that the entity name, active status and permitted activity match exactly. A vague “regulated in the UAE” claim with no entity or reference number is a warning sign.
Is there really no income tax in the UAE?
There is no federal personal income tax on salaries and wages, but that does not make every trading gain tax-free. The FTA treats personal investment income as outside the natural-person Corporate Tax test. A natural person conducting business in the UAE is within Corporate Tax if that business’s turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year. Your home country may still tax you, so confirm your position with a qualified tax adviser.
Do I need to report my trading profits to anyone?
If you invest personal funds, the FTA treats that income as outside the natural-person Corporate Tax test, so there is generally no UAE registration for it. Your home country may still tax that income or require you to report it. Under CRS and FATCA, your account information can also be shared with tax authorities automatically. If you are an expat, check your home-country rules and take professional advice.
What are FATCA and CRS?
They are international information-sharing frameworks under which financial institutions report account details to tax authorities. CRS covers exchanges between many countries, and FATCA applies specifically to US persons. Both can apply to accounts held in the UAE.
Can I trade with an overseas broker as a UAE resident?
It may be possible, but an overseas licence (for example from the FCA, ASIC or CySEC) is not UAE authorisation and may not cover you as a UAE client. A brand may onboard you through an onshore, DIFC, ADGM or overseas entity. Before you fund, check which entity you are contracting with, which regulator authorised it, what activities it is permitted to carry out and whether it can serve clients where you live.
Do I need an investor number (NIN) to trade UAE-listed shares?
To trade shares listed on a UAE exchange you need an investor number, usually called a NIN. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) each publish their own instructions, so follow the official steps for the exchange you will trade on. A NIN is an onboarding step and does not register you for tax.