Every regulated — and soon-to-be-regulated — business in the UAE needs the same backbone: AML, governance, risk and operational policies that match the rules and match reality. Templates from another jurisdiction don’t survive first contact with a UAE regulator. We build compliance frameworks that fit your licence, your model and your actual day-to-day operations.
Who this is for
Licensed firms and licence applicants across VARA, ADGM, DIFC, CMA and CBUAE regimes that need policies drafted, upgraded or localised to UAE requirements.
What we do
- Draft AML/CFT frameworks aligned to UAE requirements and your risk profile.
- Build governance structures — boards, committees, delegations, conflict management.
- Prepare risk and operational policies regulators expect to see working, not just written.
- Localise group policies from your home jurisdiction to UAE rules.
- Review and refresh frameworks as regulations change.
Policies that work vs. policies that exist
Regulators increasingly test whether your policies describe what your business actually does. A beautiful manual that nobody follows is a liability, not a defence. We draft with your operations team in the room — so the framework is followed because it fits, and audits find practice matching paper.
Frequently asked questions
Can we adapt our EU/UK group policies for the UAE?
Usually yes — as a starting point. The structure often survives; the substance needs localisation to UAE rules, definitions and regulator expectations. We do precisely that adaptation.
Do you provide ongoing compliance support after the framework is built?
Yes — through periodic reviews or our Virtual General Counsel arrangement for continuous support.
We are pre-licence. When should the policies be ready?
Before you apply: most UAE applications require the core framework as part of the submission — and its quality is assessed. See application support.