Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Activity Code 7310.98 actually authorise a business to do
Activity Code 7310.98 authorises the promotion and marketing of securities, bonds, funds, derivatives, and structured financial products to investors. It covers producing promotional materials, running investor outreach campaigns, and distributing product information on behalf of asset managers, fund houses, or fintech platforms.
It is a bounded activity. A firm holding this licence cannot execute trades, hold client funds, or provide personalised investment advice without obtaining separate, additional authorisation from the relevant regulator.
Who needs a Securities and Financial Products Promotion licence in Dubai
Any business that markets or distributes investment products on behalf of third parties — such as asset managers, investment banks, or fintech platforms — requires this licence. Typical operators include:
- Marketing agencies serving asset managers and investment banks
- Fund distribution firms operating across the GCC
- Fintech platforms promoting structured retail investment products
- Regional offices of international financial marketing firms
The nature of the activity determines whether the licence is required, not the jurisdiction of incorporation. SCA oversight applies to both mainland and free zone entities promoting to UAE-based investors.
Which regulator oversees securities promotion in the UAE
The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) is the primary federal regulator for all securities promotion activities across the UAE. Any entity promoting securities or financial products to UAE-based investors must comply with SCA marketing and promotion regulations, regardless of where it is incorporated.
Where promoted products include banking instruments or insurance-linked investments, the Central Bank of the UAE may also assert oversight. Dual-regulated structures are not uncommon for firms promoting hybrid products, and planning for this early in the setup process is strongly recommended.
What are the core compliance obligations for a securities promotion licence holder
Licence holders must meet several ongoing regulatory requirements from the moment they begin client-facing activity. Key obligations include:
- No unsolicited offers or cold-call promotion to retail investors
- All promotional materials must be accurate, balanced, and approved before distribution
- AML and KYC procedures must be operational from day one
- A designated compliance officer is required for regulated financial activities
These requirements apply regardless of whether the entity is incorporated on the mainland or in a free zone. Failure to meet them before commencing promotion — not just before incorporation — is a common and costly mistake.
Can a free zone company hold Activity Code 7310.98
Yes. Free zone entities, including those incorporated in Meydan Free Zone, can hold Activity Code 7310.98. Free zones also offer advantages such as 100% foreign ownership, faster incorporation timelines, and lower initial capital requirements compared to mainland setup.
However, holding a free zone licence is not sufficient on its own. Free zone companies must still register separately with the SCA before commencing any client-facing promotion. The free zone licence and the SCA registration are distinct processes with separate fee schedules, and both must be completed before operating.
What is the difference between mainland and free zone setup for this licence
Mainland (DED) incorporation provides broader geographic access within the UAE but involves additional structural requirements. It is suited to firms that need to operate freely across all Emirates without restriction.
Free zone incorporation — such as through Meydan Free Zone — offers 100% foreign ownership, a faster incorporation process, and lower initial capital requirements. The trade-off is that some free zone entities face limitations on direct mainland commercial activity. For securities promotion specifically, SCA registration is mandatory in both cases, so the regulatory compliance burden is largely the same regardless of jurisdiction chosen.
What is the correct sequence of steps to set up a securities promotion licence
The setup process has a specific sequence that must be followed to avoid operational delays. The key steps are: first, choose your jurisdiction (mainland DED or a free zone); second, reserve your trade name and select Activity Code 7310.98 through the relevant portal; third, prepare incorporation documents; and fourth — critically — complete SCA registration before commencing any client-facing promotion activity.
Skipping or reordering steps, particularly SCA registration, will prevent you from legally operating even if your trade licence has been issued. The two processes run in parallel but must both be completed.
How significant is Dubai's financial services sector and why does it matter for this licence
Dubai's financial services sector contributes approximately 10% of UAE GDP, according to the Dubai Statistics Center. UAE capital markets recorded over AED 300 billion in traded value annually, based on SCA Annual Reports, reflecting the scale of activity that securities promotion firms can access.
This scale means demand for licensed securities and financial products promotion is growing — but it also means the regulatory framework is tighter than many founders expect. The SCA actively enforces promotion rules across the market, making proper licensing and compliance essential rather than optional for any firm seeking to operate in this space.
Securities & Financial Products Promotion License in Dubai
Somebody has to tell investors that a fund exists. Asset managers, fund houses and fintech platforms all need their products put in front of the right people, and in the UAE that marketing work is a licensed activity in its own right. Activity code 7310.98 is the license for it.
This guide covers what the license allows, who hires you, the regulator you answer to, and the steps to get set up. One thing to fix in your mind before you read on: the trade license is only half the job. The Securities and Commodities Authority registration is the other half, and you cannot start without both.
Key Stats at a Glance
What This License Covers
Code 7310.98 lets you promote and market securities, bonds, funds, derivatives and structured financial products to investors. You can produce promotional material, run investor outreach campaigns and distribute product information on behalf of the firms behind those products.
The edges of the license matter more here than in most activities. You cannot execute trades. You cannot hold client money. You cannot give personalised investment advice. Each of those calls for separate authorisation, and drifting into them without it is a serious problem rather than a technicality.
So think of the activity as the marketing layer of the investment business. You build the message and carry it to the audience. Somebody else takes the order.
Who Your Clients Will Be
Your clients are the firms whose products you promote: asset managers, investment banks, fund houses and fintech platforms.
Four kinds of business hold this license. Marketing agencies serving asset managers and investment banks. Fund distribution firms working across the GCC. Fintech platforms pushing structured retail investment products. And regional offices of international financial marketing groups using Dubai as a base.
One point decides whether you need the license at all, and it is not where you are registered. It is what you do. If you promote securities to investors based in the UAE, the Securities and Commodities Authority has authority over you whether your company sits on the mainland or in a free zone.
The activity determines the regulator, not the address.
Mainland or Free Zone
Mainland setup through the Department of Economy and Tourism gives you wider reach across the UAE, at the cost of a heavier structure. A local service agent or Emirati partner may apply depending on your legal form, and that carries an annual fee.
Meydan Free Zone gives you full ownership, a faster start and lower capital at the outset. Some free zone entities face limits on direct mainland commercial activity, so map your client base first.
On the regulatory side the two routes look almost identical. SCA registration applies either way, so the compliance load barely shifts with jurisdiction. Choose on cost, ownership and reach instead.
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Step-by-Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, pick your jurisdiction: Mainland through DET, or Meydan Free Zone for full ownership, a faster start and lower capital at the outset.
- Step 2, book your trade name and select code 7310.98: Through the DET e-Services portal for a mainland company or the Meydan Free Zone portal for a free zone one.
- Step 3, prepare your setup documents: Passport copies for every shareholder and director, a business plan, a shareholder structure chart, and an NOC if an applicant currently works in the UAE.
- Step 4, apply for SCA registration: Run this alongside or straight after the trade license application. Check current documents and fees directly with the Securities and Commodities Authority.
- Step 5, take a physical or flexi-desk office: Financial activity licenses call for an address someone can verify. A virtual office with no physical desk is usually turned down.
- Step 6, open a corporate bank account: UAE banks run enhanced due diligence on financial services companies. Expect four to eight weeks, and have your compliance framework written down before you walk in.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
SCA registration
The free zone license and the SCA registration are two separate processes with two separate fee schedules. Holding one does not give you the other. Register with SCA before any client-facing promotion starts, not before you incorporate.
Marketing rules
No unsolicited offers and no cold calling retail investors. Every piece of promotional material must be accurate, balanced and approved before it goes out. These are the rules that get firms into trouble most often, because marketing teams move faster than compliance sign-off.
AML and KYC
Your anti-money-laundering and Know Your Customer procedures must be working from the first day you deal with a client. Not drafted. Working.
Compliance officer
Regulated financial activity calls for a named compliance officer. Budget for that role and for AML training from year one, because it is an ongoing cost rather than a setup item.
Where the Central Bank comes in
Promote banking instruments or insurance-linked investments and the Central Bank of the UAE may have a say as well. Dual-regulated structures are common for hybrid products, so plan for it early rather than discovering it late.
Insurance and tax
Professional indemnity cover is strongly advised, and institutional counterparties often make it a condition before appointing a distribution partner. Corporate tax applies at 9% on net profits above AED 375,000.
Market Opportunity
The scale is the story here. Financial services contributes roughly 10% of UAE GDP, and UAE capital markets record over AED 300 billion in traded value a year. That is a large pool of activity for promotion firms to work in.
Demand is growing with it. As more funds and structured products are marketed into the region, more of that work goes to specialist promotion firms rather than in-house teams.
The flip side is worth stating plainly. The regulatory framework is tighter than most founders expect, and SCA enforces its promotion rules actively. That filters the market. Firms that build compliance in from the start can operate freely, while those that treat it as paperwork find themselves stuck.
Conclusion
A Securities and Financial Products Promotion license is a well-defined structure for firms marketing investment products across the region, as long as SCA compliance and AML duties are built in at the start rather than bolted on afterwards.
The rules are real, but they are workable with proper preparation. What is not workable is treating the trade license as the finish line.
Your day-one choices, mainland or free zone, sole establishment or LLC, decide how fast you can operate, who you can work with and how easily you scale. If you plan to promote to institutional investors elsewhere in the GCC, check whether your UAE license carries across or whether each market needs its own registration. Speak to the Meydan Free Zone team before you incorporate.
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