How to set up a company

If your company will engage in regulated financial or market activities within the AIFC, it must complete two distinct procedures:

• Authorisation (obtaining a license from the Regulator, AFSA).

• Registration.

To provide regulated financial, market, or professional (ancillary) services within the AIFC, your company must initially obtain a license from the regulator, AFSA. This license enables AFSA to identify and prevent significant misconduct or harm, ensuring that companies and individuals adhere to predefined criteria before offering financial, market or professional (ancillary) services within the AIFC.

You can establish your company or branch in the AIFC by:

• Incorporating a new entity

• Registering a Foreign Company or Partnership as a Recognised Company or Partnership

• Redomiciling a legal entity from another jurisdiction.

Once your company secures a license (applicable to selected industries) and registers in the AIFC, it can start operations. AIFC Participants must regularly provide annual filings and notify the AIFC of any changes in their registered details. Post-registration involves ongoing compliance and reporting to meet AIFC regulatory standards.