Methodology v1
CBUAE
A
CBUAE
Tier 2

Central Bank of the UAE

(CBUAE)
AgovernmentForex Supervised
United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi
Est. 1980
0 licensed entities
900 firms

Regulatory Snapshot

Enforcement3/5
Transparency3/5
Protection3/5
Complaints3/5
Strictness3/5
Overall3.0/5
Neg. Balance Protection
Segregated Accounts
Min. CapitalAED 50,000,000
Description

The Central Bank of the UAE is the country's central bank and primary monetary authority, responsible for formulating and implementing monetary, banking, and credit policy. Established in 1980, the CBUAE supervises banks, exchange houses, finance companies, and payment service providers across the UAE mainland.

Key Regulations
Federal Decree-Law No. 14/2018 (Central Bank Law)CBUAE RegulationsAML/CFT Regulations
Regulatory Scorecard
Enforcement Power3/5
Transparency3/5
Investor Protection3/5
Complaint Resolution3/5
Licensing Strictness3/5
Overall Average3.0/5
Detailed Overview

About the CBUAE

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) is the federal financial institution responsible for overseeing the monetary, credit, and banking policy of the United Arab Emirates. The CBUAE licences and supervises banks, exchange houses, finance companies, and payment service providers operating in the UAE mainland (excluding DIFC and ADGM free zones which have their own regulators).

Investor Protection
  • Licensing and supervision of banks and financial institutions
  • Consumer protection regulations
  • Anti-money laundering and compliance framework
  • Capital adequacy and prudential supervision
Licensing Requirements
Minimum CapitalAED 50,000,000
Audit FrequencyAnnual
Reporting FrequencyQuarterly
License Timeframe6-12 months
Segregated Accounts
Negative Balance Protection
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Jurisdiction Coverage
Primary Jurisdiction: United Arab Emirates (mainland)

Restricted Countries

IranNorth Korea

CBUAE covers UAE mainland financial institutions. DIFC and ADGM are excluded (regulated separately).

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Licensing and registration requirements for market participants

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