Our compliance leaders have held the line at
Firms search by where they are regulated first and by role second. Each regulator uses its own approval term, and so do we.
FSRA · Abu Dhabi Global Market
Approved Person holding a Controlled Function. A Compliance Officer and an MLRO approved as Controlled Functions, a deputy MLRO and a documented risk framework.
Asset managers, brokers, advisers, banks and virtual asset firms.
UAE onshore financial services
Compliance Officer at management level. Under federal AML rules, a Compliance Officer at management level; banks also need CBUAE no-objection for senior compliance and risk appointments.
Payment service providers, exchange houses and finance companies.
UAE onshore capital markets
CMA-approved job holder. A Compliance Officer approved by the CMA, and AML oversight.
Brokers, fund managers and investment advisers.
DFSA · Dubai International Financial Centre
Authorised Individual holding a Licensed Function. A Compliance Officer and an MLRO approved as Licensed Functions, a deputy MLRO, and oversight proportionate to the firm.
Wealth and asset managers, advisers, fintech and insurance intermediaries.
Dubai virtual assets (outside DIFC)
Compliance Officer approved by VARA as fit and proper. A full-time Compliance Officer and a fit and proper MLRO, which VARA allows to be outsourced, plus a risk management function.
Exchanges, brokers, custodians and token issuers (VASPs).
Appointments to roles requiring regulatory approval are subject to the relevant authority's requirements.
We start with why the role is needed, then recommend the appointment your risk profile requires, not a default one.
Every role asks for the same two things: relevant tenure and relevant experience for the role, sector and jurisdiction. Certifications and prior regulatory approval are welcome, not required; detailed screening happens in person.
A senior MLRO, named on your licence and accountable from day one
Your MLRO carries personal accountability to the regulator. We place experienced fractional MLROs who own your AML/CFT framework, file SARs and STRs via goAML, and act as your point of contact with the regulator and the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit.
AML oversight that does not stop when your MLRO is away
Regulators expect AML oversight to continue when the MLRO is absent. A fractional Deputy MLRO provides that continuity, supports the day-to-day AML workload and steps up to the full role when needed.
A senior Compliance Officer, without a full-time hire
A fractional Compliance Officer runs your compliance monitoring programme, applies policy, keeps the records regulators expect and submits your regulatory returns, so oversight stays proportionate to your risk.
Senior compliance leadership where the stakes are higher
Complex business models and higher-risk client books need one leader who owns the whole framework. A fractional Head of Compliance holds that accountability, handles escalations, oversees the MLRO and Compliance Officer, and represents the firm to the regulator.
Risk governance your board and regulator can rely on
Regulators expect a documented view of risk long before operations begin. A fractional Chief Risk Officer assesses and rates your risk, sets the appetite the board signs off, and keeps it current through periodic review.
Financial crime compliance, led by people who have run it at scale
Financial crime risk sits at the centre of every UAE licence. A fractional Head of Financial Crime tests that your AML/CFT, sanctions and fraud controls work in practice, not only on paper.
Ethics and integrity, owned at senior level
Integrity failures rarely start as headlines. A fractional Head of Ethics and Integrity sets the standards, runs the whistleblowing channels and leads an independent response when a concern is raised.
Tell us where you are regulated and why the role is needed. We will recommend the appointment your risk profile requires, not a default one.
The named individual on your appointment is the person doing the work, with the qualifications and tenure to hold it. Senior-led throughout, never delegated to junior staff.
The person the regulator assesses as fit and proper is the person who does the work, day to day.
No junior bench behind a senior name. The appointee holds the role and answers for it.
Relevant tenure and experience for the role, the sector and the jurisdiction, evidenced for every appointee.
Authorisation is the start, not the finish. Our fractional officers stay on to run monitoring, reporting and oversight for as long as the business needs them.
We test the business plan and proposed activities so the firm is genuinely ready to be regulated before anything is filed.
We find what has gone wrong, fix the gaps and get the conversation with the regulator moving again.
Ongoing oversight, reporting, training and monitoring as the business scales.
We review the arrangement in place and, where needed, step in with a managed handover and minimal regulatory disruption.
Measured, accurate responses to information requests, supervisory reviews and formal investigations.
We start by understanding why the role is needed, screen your firm and recommend the appointment your risk profile requires.
Fractional places qualified executives into regulated appointments. We do not provide legal advice, and final acceptance of any appointment rests with the relevant regulator; we work alongside your appointed legal and compliance advisers. Appointments to roles requiring regulatory approval are subject to the relevant authority’s requirements.
