The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) regulates financial institutions on the UAE mainland — including payment service providers, exchange houses, finance companies, and stored value facilities.
The CBUAE supervises a broad range of non-bank financial institutions on the UAE mainland under Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2018. Payment service providers, exchange businesses, consumer finance companies, and stored value facility operators must all obtain CBUAE authorisation before commencing regulated activity.
Marensa Advisory advises on CBUAE licence applications across all entity types — covering application strategy, compliance framework design, AML/CFT programme preparation, and ongoing regulatory engagement.
Discuss Your CBUAE LicenceThe CBUAE issues several categories of financial institution licence, each with distinct capital, operational and compliance requirements.
CBUAE has significantly raised its supervisory standards since 2020, particularly around AML/CFT controls and beneficial ownership transparency. Applications without a robust compliance programme face rejection.
Marensa Advisory combines deep knowledge of the UAE regulatory landscape with practical AML/CFT programme design — supporting clients from initial scoping through to licence and beyond.
Start the ConversationDIFC and ADGM entities operate within their respective IFCs. To provide services directly to UAE mainland clients, separate CBUAE authorisation or specific arrangements are typically required.
Capital requirements depend on PSP category. Smaller operations require AED 1 million. Broader-scope PSPs, including digital wallets and large-value remittance, can require up to AED 50 million. CBUAE also requires capital to be maintained at all times.
Typically 6–12 months from application submission. Preparation quality, completeness, and business model complexity are the primary variables.
Yes. Operating an exchange business in UAE mainland without a CBUAE licence is a criminal offence under UAE federal law.