Securities & Financial Products Promotion License in Dubai

Dubai's position as a regional financial hub means demand for licensed securities and financial products promotion is growing — and the regulatory framework is tighter than many founders expect. This guide covers what the Securities & Financial Products Promotion licence (Activity Code 7310.98) covers, who needs it, how to set it up, and what it costs.

Key Stats at a Glance	Source
UAE financial services sector contributes approximately 10% of GDP	Dubai Statistics Center
All securities promotion activities across the UAE are regulated by the SCA	Securities and Commodities Authority
UAE capital markets recorded over AED 300 billion in traded value annually	SCA Annual Reports
100% foreign ownership permitted in designated free zones for financial services companies	Official UAE Government Portal

What This Licence Covers and Who Needs It

Activity Code 7310.98 authorises the promotion and marketing of securities, bonds, funds, derivatives, and structured financial products to investors. It is a specific, bounded activity — distinct from brokerage, investment advisory, or custody. If your business markets or distributes investment products on behalf of asset managers, fund houses, or fintech platforms, this is the licence you need.

The distinction matters commercially. A firm holding this licence can produce promotional materials, run investor outreach campaigns, and distribute product information. It cannot execute trades, hold client funds, or provide personalised investment advice without additional authorisation.

Target 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

Critically, SCA oversight applies regardless of whether the entity is mainland or free zone. The jurisdiction of incorporation does not determine regulatory scope — the nature of the activity does.

Regulatory Framework and Compliance Requirements

The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) is the primary federal regulator for securities promotion across the UAE. Any entity promoting securities or financial products to UAE-based investors — regardless of where it is incorporated — must comply with SCA's marketing and promotion regulations.

Core compliance 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 the first day of client-facing activity
• Designated compliance officer required for regulated financial activities

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 — plan for this early.

Free zone entities, including those incorporated in Meydan Free Zone, can hold Activity Code 7310.98 but must still register with the SCA before commencing any client-facing promotion. The free zone licence and the SCA registration are separate processes with separate fee schedules.

Step-by-Step Licence Setup Guide

The setup process is straightforward if you approach it in the right sequence. Skipping steps — particularly SCA registration — will delay your ability to operate.

Step 1 — Choose your jurisdiction. Mainland (DED) or a free zone such as Meydan Free Zone. Free zones offer 100% foreign ownership, faster incorporation, and lower initial capital requirements. Mainland setup provides broader geographic access within the UAE but involves additional structural requirements.

Step 2 — Reserve your trade name and select Activity Code 7310.98. This can be done via the DED e-services portal for mainland entities, or through your chosen free zone's online portal.

Step 3 — Prepare incorporation documents. Standard requirements include passport copies of all shareholders and directors, a business plan, shareholder structure chart, and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) if an applicant is currently employed in the UAE.

Step 4 — Submit SCA registration application. This runs in parallel with or immediately after trade licence submission. Confirm current documentation requirements and fee schedules directly at sca.gov.ae.

Step 5 — Secure a physical or flexi-desk office address. Financial activity licences require a verifiable UAE address. Virtual offices without a physical desk component are generally not accepted.

Step 6 — Open a corporate bank account. UAE banks conduct enhanced due diligence on financial services entities. Expect a longer onboarding process — typically four to eight weeks — and have your compliance framework documented before approaching banks.

Typical timelines: two to four weeks for free zone incorporation; four to six weeks for mainland with SCA registration factored in.

Costs, Structures, and Practical Considerations

Licence fees vary by jurisdiction. Meydan Free Zone is among the more cost-competitive options for financial activity licences in Dubai, with packages that include flexi-desk arrangements suitable for lean operational structures.

SCA registration carries its own fee schedule, separate from the trade licence cost. Confirm current rates directly at sca.gov.ae — these are updated periodically and should not be relied upon from third-party estimates.

Additional cost considerations:

• Mainland setup requires a local service agent or Emirati partner depending on legal structure — this carries an annual fee
• Corporate tax at 9% applies to net profits above AED 375,000 under the UAE's current regime — confirmed via the Federal Tax Authority
• Professional indemnity insurance is strongly advised and is often a prerequisite for institutional counterparties and fund managers who engage distribution partners
• Ongoing compliance costs — including a designated compliance officer and AML training — should be budgeted from year one

If you intend to promote products to institutional investors in other GCC markets, confirm whether your UAE licence provides passporting rights or whether separate registrations are required in each market.

Conclusion

A Securities & Financial Products Promotion licence in Dubai is a viable, well-defined structure for firms marketing investment products across the region — provided SCA compliance and AML obligations are built in from the start, not bolted on later. The regulatory requirements are real, but they are manageable with the right preparation.

The structure you choose on day one — mainland versus free zone, sole establishment versus LLC — will determine how quickly you can operate, who you can work with, and how easily you can scale. Speak to a specialist who understands both the commercial and regulatory side before you incorporate.

References

• Dubai Statistics Center (dsc.gov.ae)
• Securities and Commodities Authority (sca.gov.ae)
• Official UAE Government Portal (u.ae)
• Central Bank of the UAE (centralbank.ae)
• DED e-services portal (eservices.dubaided.gov.ae)
• Federal Tax Authority (tax.gov.ae)