Top 10 Service Providers for New Financial Firms in Dubai (Law, Compliance, Tech, Audit)

Building the Right Support Network in DIFC & ADGM

Launching a financial services firm in the UAE — especially under DIFC (DFSA) or ADGM (FSRA) regulation — requires far more than obtaining a license.
New firms depend heavily on an ecosystem of specialist partners for:

• Regulatory applications
• Corporate structuring
• Compliance oversight
• Legal documentation
• Audit & assurance
• Technology infrastructure
• HR & visa support
• Ongoing advisory

This guide outlines the top 10 categories of service providers, including leading examples in each, to ensure new financial firms make informed, effective choices from day one.

(Names provided are representative of commonly used firms in the DIFC/ADGM ecosystem and are included to guide positioning.)

1. Law Firms Specialising in Financial Regulation

These firms draft licensing documentation, regulatory business plans, client agreements, fund constitutions, and provide DFSA/FSRA advisory.

Top UAE Regulatory Law Firms

• Clyde & Co – one of the most active in DFSA/FSRA regulatory matters ‍
• Simmons & Simmons – strong in funds, fintech, and asset management ‍
• Morgan Lewis – significant experience advising global asset managers ‍
• Norton Rose Fulbright – highly regarded for financial regulations & DFSA rules ‍
• Al Tamimi & Company – leading regional firm with DFSA expertise

What they help with

• Regulatory licence applications
• Client agreements (IMAs, Terms of Business)
• Fund formation (QIFs, Exempt Funds, VCCs)
• Regulator engagement
• Internal policies and contracts

2. Compliance & Regulatory Consultants (DFSA & FSRA)

These consultants prepare your Regulatory Business Plan, advise on controls, and help navigate the approval process.

Leading Providers

• Compliance 360 / CCL ‍
• Avada ‍
• Finsight Global ‍
• Regsphere ‍
• Waystone Compliance

What they help with

• Licensing support
• Outsourced Compliance Officer & MLRO
• Development of policies & procedures
• Risk frameworks
• DFSA/FSRA inspections & ongoing compliance

3. Corporate Service Providers (CSPs) & Company Formation Specialists

Essential for incorporating in DIFC or ADGM, opening bank accounts, supporting visas, and handling corporate governance.

Leading CSPs

• Crestbridge ADGM ‍
• Jersey Finance members active in ADGM ‍
• Ocorian ‍
• TMF Group ‍
• Sovereign Group

What they help with

• Incorporation (DIFC/ADGM/SPV/Foundation)
• Corporate secretarial services
• Economic substance notifications
• Share registers & legal filings
• Sponsor visas & PRO services

4. Fund Administrators (For Managers Setting Up Funds)

For private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and traditional funds.

Top Fund Admins in ADGM/DIFC

• Apex ‍
• MUFG Investor Services ‍
• NAV Fund Services ‍
• SS&C GlobeOp ‍
• Trident Trust

What they help with

• NAV calculations
• Investor onboarding
• Fund compliance & reporting
• Capital calls & distributions
• Registrar & transfer agency functions

5. Audit & Assurance Firms

Both DFSA and FSRA require regulated firms to appoint approved auditors.

Well-Established Audit Providers

• PwC Middle East ‍
• EY Middle East ‍
• KPMG Lower Gulf ‍
• Deloitte Middle East ‍
• Grant Thornton UAE

What they help with

• External audit
• Financial statements
• Internal control reviews
• DFSA/FSRA client money audits (CASS equivalents)

6. Banking Partners & Custodians

Essential for safeguarding assets, operating accounts, and handling client money (if applicable).

Common Custodial & Banking Partners

• HSBC ‍
• UBS ‍
• Emirates NBD ‍
• Mashreq NeoBiz (operational accounts) ‍
• Saxo Bank (brokerage & trading) ‍
• Interactive Brokers ‍
• Swissquote

What they provide

• Custody services
• Trading platforms
• Multi-asset brokerage
• Operational & capital accounts

7. Technology Platforms (PMS, CRM, Client Portal, Data Aggregation)

Technology sits at the heart of operational readiness for DFSA/FSRA firms. This is where Reluna stands out.

Leading Technology Providers

• Reluna (all-in-one PMS + onboarding + CRM + client portal + reporting)
• ‍Addepar (UHNWI reporting, limited regionally) ‍
• WealthTech vendors via API integrations ‍
• Specialized RegTech reporting tools

Why Reluna is the preferred choice for UAE firms

• Digital onboarding + client categorization
• DFSA/FSRA-aligned CRM
• Multi-custodian aggregation
• Portfolio management & analytics
• Automated reconciliation
• Client reporting portal
• Compliance workflow tools
• End-to-end audit trail

Reluna covers 80–90% of all technology requirements for DIFC/ADGM firms in a single environment.

8. AML / KYC Vendors

Firms must comply with UAE AML laws and regulator requirements.

Popular Tools

• SumSub ‍
• Onfido ‍
• Refinitiv World-Check ‍
• LexisNexis Risk Solutions ‍
• ComplyAdvantage

Use Cases

• Identity verification
• AML screening
• Adverse media checks
• Ongoing monitoring
• Risk scoring

9. HR, Payroll & Visa Providers

Regulated firms must handle employment visas and HR compliance correctly.

Specialised HR/PRO Providers

• PRO Partner Group ‍
• TASC Corporate Services ‍
• Kingsmen ‍
• Blue Ocean HR

They help with

• Employee visas
• Payroll management
• Labour contracts
• HR policy implementation
• Employee record management

10. Strategic Advisory & Business Consulting Firms

Useful for market entry, corporate structuring, and strategic positioning.

Examples

• McKinsey Middle East ‍
• Bain & Company GCC ‍
• Kearney GCC ‍
• Oliver Wyman (strong in financial services)

Mostly used by larger or fast-scaling firms.

How New Firms Should Choose Service Providers (Evaluation Framework)

Checklist for selecting the right partner:

• Proven experience with DFSA/FSRA
• References from regulated firms
• Transparent pricing
• Ability to scale with the business
• Familiarity with your license category
• Strong onboarding support
• Clear SLAs and response times
• Good relationship with regulators
• Integration with your tech stack (for tech vendors)

Making the right choices early reduces future operational friction.

Reluna: The Technology Provider Among the “Top 10”

Reluna integrates portfolio management, CRM, client portal, reconciliation, data aggregation, compliance workflows, and reporting in one seamless platform — purpose-built for DIFC and ADGM-regulated firms.

Reluna enables firms to:

• Become operationally ready faster
• Reduce complexity of multi-system setups
• Maintain DFSA/FSRA compliance
• Automate onboarding & reporting
• Improve client transparency
• Scale efficiently

Most UAE firms start small — Reluna ensures they start strong.

👉 Request a Reluna demo to see how we help newly licensed firms in DIFC and ADGM build world-class operations.