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Brokerlist2026

Regulator profile · AE

DFSA — Dubai Financial Services Authority

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The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) is the independent regulator of financial services within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) free zone. It applies a Anglo-American common-law framework distinct from the rest of the UAE.

Brokers in United Arab Emirates accepting residents under DFSA
Jurisdiction
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), United Arab Emirates · DIFC-only.
Founded
2004
Mandate
Established under DIFC Law No. 1 of 2004. DFSA licenses investment firms operating from the DIFC, supervises conduct and capital adequacy, and operates dedicated tribunals for disputes within the centre.
Consumer protection
No statutory compensation scheme equivalent to the FSCS. Client-money rules require segregation; conduct is governed by the DFSA Conduct of Business module. Retail-client protections include suitability and risk-disclosure requirements.
Retail leverage caps
No fixed retail cap; DFSA-authorised firms set leverage subject to the General Module suitability requirement and the Conduct of Business risk-warning rules. Most DFSA-licensed CFD providers offer up to 1:30 to 1:100 to retail clients in line with international norms.
Public register
DFSA Public Register lists every authorised firm and individual within the DIFC, including authorised activities, key persons and any current sanctions. Open register ↗
Dispute resolution
The DIFC Courts hear most disputes within the free zone, with the option of arbitration via DIFC-LCIA. There is no consumer-style ombudsman with binding-award powers.
Editor notes
A DFSA licence applies only inside the DIFC; firms targeting retail clients elsewhere in the UAE typically also need a Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) licence. Be careful not to confuse DFSA with the older SCA mainland regime.

Brokers we track with a DFSA licence

No brokers

No tracked broker currently holds a DFSA licence in our database.

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