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Check that an investment firm is licensed

Guide1 min read · Published 12 November 2026 · Updated 12 November 2026 · Version 1 · Nuzan editorial team

Before you deal with a firm, look it up on the Capital Market Authority's list of licensed companies and on its warnings list.

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Who licenses investment firms

The Capital Market Authority (CMA), previously the Securities and Commodities Authority, was established in 2000. It oversees the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, the Dubai Financial Market and the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange, and one of its objectives is to protect investors. It issues financial activity licences. [1] In the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) regulates. [1]

Look the firm up

  • Licensed companies: the CMA publishes the entities it has licensed or authorised, which you can filter by activity and search. [2]
  • Warnings: the CMA publishes a warnings list of entities that advertise regulated activities without its licence, authorisation or approval, and advises investors not to deal with them. [3]

Sources

  1. UAE Government portal, "Financial markets" (updated 4 September 2026): https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/finance-and-investment/Finance/financial-markets
  2. Capital Market Authority, "Licensed Companies": https://www.uaecma.gov.ae/en/open-data/licensed-companies.aspx
  3. Capital Market Authority, "Warnings": https://www.uaecma.gov.ae/en/open-data/warnings

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