# Investment firm licence (Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC))

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/difc-cat2/

The Financial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Principal (Category 2) is issued by Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) under the Regulatory Law. The legal decision period is No statutory decision period: the Regulatory Law (Art. 48) only requires the DFSA to notify the applicant of its decision without undue delay. The application fee is USD 40,000. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.

## At a glance

| Official name | Financial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Principal (Category 2) [1] |
| --- | --- |
| Also known as | DFSA Category 2 licence · DIFC Category 2 licence · DFSA dealing as principal licence · DIFC Cat 2 licence |
| Issued by | [Dubai Financial Services Authority](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/dfsa-difc/) |
| Jurisdiction | [Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)](https://protegra.io/licensing/jurisdictions/difc/) |
| Licence family | [Investment firm / broker-dealer](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/) |
| Legal basis | Regulatory Law [2]; DIFC Law No. 2 of 2010 (Collective Investment Law 2010) [3]; DIFC Law No. 5 of 2006 (Investment Trust Law 2006) [4]; DFSA Rulebook: Prudential Investment, Insurance Intermediation and Banking Module (PIB) [1] |
| Passporting | Domestic only |
| Application fee | USD 40,000 [5] |
| Annual fee | USD 50,000 [5] |
| Statutory decision time | No statutory decision period: the Regulatory Law (Art. 48) only requires the DFSA to notify the applicant of its decision without undue delay [2] |

## What it lets you do

| [Dealing on own account](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/dealing-own-account/) | Trading financial instruments against proprietary capital, which includes acting as counterparty to client trades. |
| --- | --- |
| [Execution of orders on behalf of clients](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/order-execution/) | Concluding agreements to buy or sell financial instruments on behalf of clients. |

## Where it is valid

_Valid in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)._

## Cost

_Regulatory costs from the official sources above. Professional fees, staff, office and audit come on top and depend on the business model._

## Buying a company that already holds it

**Prior approval required.** Under Regulatory Law 2004 Article 59 and DFSA Rulebook General Module (GEN) Section 11.8, prior written approval from the DFSA is required before any person becomes a Controller, or increases their holding across 30% or 50% thresholds. A Controller is defined as someone holding 10% or more of shares or voting rights, or exercising significant influence over management. Under GEN 11.8.6, the DFSA must determine an application for approval of a change of control within 90 days of receipt of a duly completed application. [6]

Ready-made companies holding this licence: [see verified positions](https://protegra.io/companies/investment-brokerage/).

## IF in other countries

| Country | Licence | Regulator | Min. capital | Application fee | Statutory time |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/adgm-cat2/) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Principal (Category 2) | FSRA |: | USD 40,000 |: |
| [Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/adgm-cat3a/) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Agent or Matched Principal (Category 3A) | FSRA |: |: |: |
| [Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/adgm-cat4/) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Advising on Investments or Arranging Deals in Investments (Category 4) | FSRA |: |: |: |
| [Australia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/australia/) | Australian financial services licence (AFSL) | ASIC |: |: |: |
| [Bermuda](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/bermuda/) | Investment Business LicenceInvestment Business Licence (standard licence, under the Investment Business Act 2003) | BMA |: |: |: |
| [British Virgin Islands](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/bvi/) | Investment Business LicenceInvestment Business Licence (Categories 1-4: dealing, managing, advising, custody/administration of investments) | BVI FSC |: |: |: |
| [Cayman Islands](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/cayman-islands/) | Securities Investment Business Licence / Registered Person | CIMA |: |: |: |
| [Cyprus](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/cyprus-cif/) | Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF) authorisation | CySEC |: | EUR 7,000 | ~6 mo |
| [Czech Republic](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/czech-republic/) | Investment Firm licence | CNB |: | CZK 20,000 | ~6 mo |
| Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Principal (Category 2) | DFSA |: | USD 40,000 |: |
| [Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/difc-cat3a/) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Agent or Operating an Alternative Trading System (Category 3A) | DFSA |: | USD 25,000 |: |
| [Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/difc-cat4/) | Investment firm licenceFinancial Services Permission for Advising on Financial Products or Arranging Deals in Investments (Category 4) | DFSA |: | USD 15,000 |: |
| [Estonia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/estonia/) | Authorisation as an investment firm | FI |: | EUR 3,000 | ~2 mo |
| [France](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/france-cif/) | Financial investment adviser status | AMF |: |: |: |
| [Germany](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/germany/) | Investment firm licence | BaFin |: | EUR 6,336 | ~6 mo |
| [Hong Kong](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/hong-kong-type1/) | Type 1 Licence for Dealing in Securities | SFC |: | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| [Hong Kong](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/hong-kong-type2/) | Type 2 Licence for Dealing in Futures Contracts | SFC |: | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| [Hong Kong](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/hong-kong-type4/) | Type 4 Licence for Advising on Securities | SFC |: | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| [Hong Kong](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/hong-kong-type6/) | Type 6 Licence for Advising on Corporate Finance | SFC |: | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| [Hong Kong](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/hong-kong-type7/) | Type 7 Licence for Providing Automated Trading Services | SFC |: | HKD 4,740 | ~3.5 mo |
| [Ireland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/ireland/) | Investment Firm Authorisation (MiFID II) | CBI |: |: |: |
| [Italy](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/italy-sim/) | Investment firm licence (SIM) | CONSOB |: |: | ~6 mo |
| [Latvia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/latvia/) | Investment firm licence | LB |: |: |: |
| [Lithuania](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/lithuania/) | Financial brokerage firm licence | LB |: |: |: |
| [Luxembourg](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/luxembourg/) | Investment firm authorisation | CSSF |: | EUR 50,000 | ~6 mo |
| [Malaysia (Labuan)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/labuan-labuan/) | Securities Licensee licenceSecurities Licensee licence (dealing in / advising on securities) | Labuan FSA |: |: |: |
| [Malta](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/malta/) | Investment services licence (Category 1, 2, or 3) | MFSA |: | EUR 7,250 | ~6 mo |
| [Mauritius](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/mauritius-investment-adviser/) | Investment Adviser Licence | FSC |: |: |: |
| [Mauritius](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/mauritius-investment-dealer/) | Investment Dealer Licence | FSC |: | USD 500 | ~0.5 mo |
| [Netherlands](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/netherlands/) | Investment firm licenceInvestment firm licence (Vergunning beleggingsonderneming) under Wft Article 2:96 and MiFID II | AFM |: | EUR 200 | ~3 mo |
| [Poland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/poland-brokerage/) | Brokerage House licence (dom maklerski) | KNF |: | EUR 4,500 | ~2 mo |
| [Seychelles](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/seychelles/) | Securities Dealer's Licence | FSA |: |: |: |
| [Singapore](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/singapore-cms/) | Capital Markets Services (CMS) Licence | MAS |: | SGD 1,000 |: |
| [Slovakia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/slovakia/) | Investment firm licence | NBS |: |: |: |
| [South Africa](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/south-africa-fsp-cat1/) | Financial Services Provider licence - Category IFinancial Services Provider licence - Category I (advice and/or intermediary services, non-discretionary, incl. crypto assets) | FSCA |: |: |: |
| [South Africa](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/south-africa-fsp-cat2/) | Financial Services Provider licence - Category II (discretionary FSP) | FSCA |: |: |: |
| [South Africa](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/south-africa-odp/) | Over-the-Counter Derivative Provider (ODP) authorisationOver-the-Counter Derivative Provider (ODP) authorisation under the Financial Markets Act | FSCA |: |: |: |
| [Spain](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/spain-broker-dealer/) | AV) investment firm licence | CNMV |: | EUR 10,000 | ~6 mo |
| [Spain](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/spain-eaf/) | Empresa de Asesoramiento Financiero (EAF) licence | CNMV |: | EUR 1,000 | ~6 mo |
| [Switzerland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/switzerland-portfolio-manager/) | Portfolio manager licence | FINMA |: |: |: |
| [Switzerland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/switzerland/) | Securities firm licence | FINMA |: |: |: |
| [United Kingdom](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/united-kingdom/) | MIFIDPRU Investment Firm Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA) | FCA |: | GBP 2,820 | ~6 mo |

Values come from each licence's page, where every figure has its source.

## Laws behind it

- [Regulatory Law 2004](https://protegra.io/licensing/laws/ae-difc-regulatory-law-2004/): DIFC Law No. 1 of 2004

## Sources

1. [DFSA Rulebook: prudential investment insurance intermediation and banking m](https://dfsaen.thomsonreuters.com/rulebook/prudential-investment-insurance-intermediation-and-banking-module-pib-ver5307-26): retrieved 2026-09-24
2. [DFSA Rulebook: regulatory law 1](https://dfsaen.thomsonreuters.com/rulebook/regulatory-law-1): retrieved 2026-09-24
3. [DFSA Rulebook: collective investment law](https://dfsaen.thomsonreuters.com/rulebook/collective-investment-law): retrieved 2026-09-24
4. [DFSA Rulebook: investment trust law](https://dfsaen.thomsonreuters.com/rulebook/investment-trust-law): retrieved 2026-09-24
5. [DFSA Rulebook: fees module fer ver3504 26](https://dfsaen.thomsonreuters.com/rulebook/fees-module-fer-ver3504-26): retrieved 2026-09-24
6. [DFSA Rulebook: general module gen ver7207 26](https://dfsaen.thomsonreuters.com/rulebook/general-module-gen-ver7207-26): retrieved 2026-09-24

Last verified 2026-09-24 · Author: Danil Marmysh · Reviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova · © Protegra. Data: CC BY 4.0, cite "Protegra Licensing Atlas". Not legal advice.