# Fintech licensing in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/jurisdictions/difc/

In Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), fintech and crypto licences are issued by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The Atlas covers 7 licence types there, in 5 families: bank, fund manager, investment firm, money transmitter and virtual asset service provider. Each licence page lists its legal basis, fees and decision period with sources.

## Financial regulators in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

- [Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)The DFSA is the independent regulator of financial services conducted in or from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). It authori](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/dfsa-difc/)

## Fintech licences available in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

### [Bank / credit institution](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/)

- [Bank · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits or Providing Credit (Category 1 Commercial Bank)DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/difc/)

### [Fund manager](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/fund-manager/)

- [FM · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Financial Services Permission for Managing a Collective Investment Fund (Category 3C)DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/fund-manager/difc/)

### [Investment firm / broker-dealer](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/)

- [IF · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Financial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Principal (Category 2)DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/difc-cat2/)
- [IF · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Financial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Agent or Operating an Alternative Trading System (Category 3A)DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/difc-cat3a/)
- [IF · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Financial Services Permission for Advising on Financial Products or Arranging Deals in Investments (Category 4)DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/difc-cat4/)

### [Money transmitter / money services business (MSB)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/)

- [MSB · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Financial Services Permission for Providing Money Services restricted to Money Transmission only (Category 4)DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/difc/)

### [Virtual asset service provider (non-MiCA)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/vasp/)

- [VASP · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Financial Services Permission with Crypto Token Activities EndorsementDFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/vasp/difc/)

## Path to market

Start by mapping the activities you plan to offer onto the licence types above; the activity pages show which licence permits each one. DFSA offers pre-application meetings, an innovation hub and a regulatory sandbox; the regulator page explains how to use them. The application goes to DFSA, together with the capital, governance and AML documentation the licence page lists.

## Getting licensed in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

Protegra handles licensing in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) end to end: [crypto licensing in DIFC](https://protegra.io/difc-uae).

Last verified: · Author: Danil Marmysh · Reviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova · © Protegra. Data: CC BY 4.0, cite "Protegra Licensing Atlas". Not legal advice.