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ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board compliance

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OnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA compliance

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ScoutPlanning your UAE setup

Screening, rules and records

VerifySanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you
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I'm setting up a company in the UAEScout — Choose the right free zone or mainland licence before you pay for one.I run a UAE companyComply — Know what applies to your company and stay on top of it, whether it's a trading firm, a DNFBP or licensed by a financial regulator.I'm a firm serving clientsOnboard · Shield · Ledger · Verify — Deliver compliance, bookkeeping or KYC for many clients from one workspace.I'm researching UAE regulationLexara — Read the law itself and get answers that cite the article.

Free zones

UAE free zonesCosts and visas by zoneFree zone price indexFree zone cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGM

Business activities

Mainland licence activitiesBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklistSample setup report

UAE law

Laws and rulebooksRegulatorsUAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulations

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Lexara WeeklyTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
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ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board complianceOnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA complianceScoutPlanning your UAE setupVerifySanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you

Solutions

I'm setting up a company in the UAEI run a UAE companyI'm a firm serving clientsI'm researching UAE regulation

Free tools & guides

UAE free zonesCosts and visas by zoneFree zone price indexFree zone cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGMMainland licence activitiesBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklistSample setup reportLaws and rulebooksRegulatorsUAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulationsLexara WeeklyTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
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Free zonesAll free zonesBy emirateCosts and visasPrice indexCost calculatorFree zone comparisonMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGMBest for startupsBest for freelancersCrypto / VASP licenceFree zone authoritiesSetup guideBusiness activities →UAE law →Tax and compliance terms →

Free zone tools

By emirate Costs and visas Price index Cost calculator Free zone comparison Mainland vs free zone DIFC vs ADGM Best for startups Best for freelancers Crypto / VASP licence Free zone authorities Setup guide

Related

Business activities Qualifying Free Zone Person UAE Corporate Tax law Get a setup recommendation

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Arakan

UAE compliance, from company setup to filing — for UAE companies and the firms that serve them. 10 apps on one company record.

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10 apps

Comply

Your compliance manager

Govern

Governance and board compliance

Onboard

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)

Shield

Clients' regulatory compliance

Ledger

Clients' FTA compliance

Scout

Planning your UAE setup

Verify

Sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screening

Lexara

UAE rulebook library

Vault

Statutory records storage

Scope

What applies to you

UAE free zones by emirate

View all
Dubai
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDMCDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDMCDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZ2454ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAORAKEZ
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

© 2026 Arakan. DIFC, Dubai, UAE.

Arakan-managed document storage: AWS me-central-1 (UAE).

UAE Regulators

Every UAE regulatory authority,
explained.

56 authorities govern business compliance in the UAE. Understanding which ones apply to your business — and why — is the foundation of any compliance programme.

Back to free zones

Not sure which regulators apply to you?

Arakan's discovery engine maps every authority that applies to your entity automatically — based on your jurisdiction, activity, and legal form.

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Federal Authorities (23)

Central Bank of the UAE

cbuae

Federal

Central Bank of the UAE

central-bank

Federal

Banking licenses, payment services, insurance, and financial institution prudential rules.

BankingInsurancePayments

Central Bank of the UAE — DPMS Cash Transaction Reporting (DPMSR)

cbuae-dnfbp

Federal

Central Directorate of Civil Defence — UAE

civil-defence

Federal

Emirates Identity Authority (ICP)

eida

Federal

Federal (Cross-Regulator / Federal Decree-Laws)

federal

Federal

Federal Tax Authority

fta

Federal

Corporate Tax, VAT, Transfer Pricing, and Pillar Two compliance for all UAE businesses.

TaxAll sectors

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

moccae

Federal

Ministry of Economy — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision

moe

Federal

AML/CFT supervision for DNFBPs — real estate, gold, legal, accounting, and trust services.

AMLReal estateGoldLegalAccounting

Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure

moei

Federal

Ministry of Finance

mof

Federal

Pillar Two global minimum tax, country-by-country reporting, and government fee compliance.

TaxMNEsPillar Two

Ministry of Health and Prevention

mohap

Federal

Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation

mohre

Federal

Employment contracts, WPS payroll, Emiratisation quotas, and worker welfare standards.

EmploymentAll sectors

Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology

moiat

Federal

Ministry of Interior

moi

Federal

National Media Council

nmc

Federal

National Qualifications Authority

naqaa

Federal

National Records and Archives Authority

nra

Federal

Securities and Commodities Authority

sca

Federal

Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority

tdra

Federal

UAE Data Office

udo

Federal

Personal data protection, privacy obligations, and data controller registration.

Data protectionAll sectors

UAE Federal Customs Authority

customs

Federal

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority

vara

Federal

Virtual asset services — licensing, AML, custody, and market conduct for VASPs.

Virtual assetsCryptoDeFi

Emirate & Free Zone Authorities (33)

Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone

adfza

Emirate

Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development

added

Emirate

Abu Dhabi Municipality

adm

Emirate

ADGM Registration Authority

adgm-ra

Emirate

Company registration, annual filings, and corporate governance for ADGM entities.

CorporateADGMAbu Dhabi

Ajman Free Zone

ajman-fz

Emirate

Department of Economy and Tourism — Dubai

dtcm

Emirate

Department of Economy and Tourism — Trade Licensing

ded-dubai

Emirate

Department of Health — Abu Dhabi

doh

Emirate

DIFC Registrar of Companies

difc-roc

Emirate

Company registration, annual filings, and corporate governance for DIFC entities.

CorporateDIFC

Dubai Airport Freezone Authority

dafza

Emirate

Dubai Development Authority

dda

Emirate

Dubai Financial Services Authority

dfsa

Emirate

Financial services in DIFC — asset management, capital markets, banking, insurance.

Financial servicesDIFC

Dubai Health Authority

dha

Emirate

Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority

diez

Emirate

Dubai Land Department

dld

Emirate

Real estate registration, broker licensing, and property transaction compliance in Dubai.

Real estateDubai

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre

dmcc

Emirate

Free zone licensing, annual audits, and commodity trade compliance for DMCC members.

Free zoneCommoditiesDubai

Dubai Municipality

dubai-municipality

Emirate

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority

dso

Emirate

Financial Services Regulatory Authority — ADGM

fsra

Emirate

Fujairah Free Zone

fujairah-fz

Emirate

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

hamriyah

Emirate

Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority

jafza

Emirate

Free zone licensing, customs, and trade facilitation compliance for JAFZA members.

Free zoneTradeDubai

Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi

kizad

Emirate

RAK Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO)

rakdao

Emirate

RAK International Corporate Centre

rak-icc

Emirate

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone

rakez

Emirate

Real Estate Regulatory Authority — Dubai

rera

Emirate

Roads and Transport Authority — Dubai

rta

Emirate

Security Industry Regulatory Agency

sira

Emirate

Sharjah Airport International Free Zone

saif

Emirate

Sharjah Investment Authority

sharjah-iz

Emirate

twofour54 — Abu Dhabi Media Zone

twofour54

Emirate

Umm Al Quwain Free Zone

uaq-fz

Emirate

Built for UAE compliance

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