CAPABILITY STATEMENT

Compliance Advisory

Independent regulatory compliance advisory for supervised firms across the Gulf

DFSA
FSRA
CBUAE
CMA
VARA
SAMA
QFCRA
FSA / CBO

UAE REGULATORY LANDSCAPE

Regulators we serve — United Arab Emirates

UAE-supervised firms operate under a layered regulatory architecture. We cover all five regulators with current, rulebook-specific compliance expertise.

DFSA

Dubai Financial Services Authority

Conducts of Business, General Module, and Client Classification rules for DIFC-authorised firms. Annual compliance reporting, prescribed officers, and regular thematic reviews.

Compliance framework design
Senior Executive & Compliance Officer requirements
Annual regulatory returns
Thematic review preparation & response

CBUAE

Central Bank of the UAE

Banks, finance companies, payment service providers, and exchange houses subject to CBUAE Standards on Governance, Consumer Protection, and Retail Payment Services.

Consumer protection compliance
Governance & internal controls
Payment services regulation
Prudential compliance support

FSRA

Financial Services Regulatory Auth.

ADGM-based firms subject to FSRA Conduct of Business rules, AML/CFT requirements, senior management arrangements, and FSRA’s principles-based supervisory model.

FSRA rulebook compliance
Approved Individual obligations
Governance & conduct frameworks
Regulatory reporting & notifications

CMA

Capital Market Authority (UAE)

Reconstituted from SCA (January 2026), the CMA supervises securities and investment firms under UAE Federal law. Capital market conduct, licensing, and disclosure obligations.

CMA conduct of business rules
Investment firm compliance frameworks
Market conduct obligations
Disclosure & periodic reporting

VARA

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority

Dubai’s dedicated virtual asset regulator governs VASPs under a comprehensive rulebook covering market conduct, AML, technology, and consumer protection for crypto-related businesses.

VARA Compliance & Risk Rulebook
VASP licensing requirements
Market conduct obligations
Technology & custody compliance

REGIONAL REGULATORY LANDSCAPE

Regulators we serve — KSA, Oman & Qatar

Each GCC market has its own compliance architecture. Our practitioners have current, in-jurisdiction knowledge of each regulator’s specific requirements.

SAMA

Saudi Central Bank (KSA )

Primary prudential and conduct supervisor for banks, insurance, and payment providers in the Kingdom.

SAMA governance standards
Consumer protection regulation
Insurance conduct requirements
Open banking & fintech compliance

QFCRA

Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QATAR )

Regulates firms operating in the QFC. QFC-specific rulebook covering authorisation, conduct, client protection, and periodic reporting.

QFC conduct of business
Approved individuals
Compliance officer obligations
Periodic returns & notifications

CMA

Capital Market Authority (KSA )

Securities and investment firm regulator. Capital Market Institutions Regulations govern licensed investment activities and market conduct.

CMA conduct rules
Investment firm licensing
Disclosure obligations
Fund management compliance

QCB

Qatar Central Bank (QATAR )

Supervises banks, finance companies, and exchange houses in Qatar. QCB-regulated firms subject to prudential and conduct requirements.

Prudential compliance support
Consumer protection standards
Reporting obligations
Governance frameworks

FSA

Financial Services Authority (OMAN)

Replaced Oman’s CMA in 2024. Supervises capital markets, insurance, and audit in the Sultanate under a reformed regulatory framework.

FSA rulebook compliance
Capital market obligations
Insurance regulatory compliance
Governance & conduct standards

CBO

Central Bank of Oman (OMAN )

Supervises banks, finance companies, and exchange houses. Banking sector compliance, consumer protection, and prudential obligations.

Banking conduct requirements
Consumer protection compliance
Exchange house regulation
Reporting & governance

Compliance as a competitive advantage

MNA’s Compliance Advisory practice helps financial institutions, regulated firms, and designated non-financial businesses across the Gulf navigate their regulatory compliance obligations confidently. We provide compliance frameworks, monitoring, regulatory change support, and senior compliance resource — aligned to each jurisdiction’s specific rulebook.

Multi-jurisdiction depth
Current, working knowledge of every regulator’s compliance rulebook.
Genuinely independent
No conflicts of interest — compliance advice that is honest and objective.
Former practitioners :
Ex-compliance officers and regulators who have lived the obligations.

Regulatory compliance you can stand behind

DFSA · FSRA · CBUAE · CMA · VARA SAMA · QFCRA · FSA · CBO

COMPLIANCE SERVICES

Eight compliance advisory services

A complete spectrum of compliance support — from building your framework through to managing regulatory examinations.

Compliance Framework Design

Policies, procedures & conduct risk governance

Compliance Monitoring & Testing

Ongoing testing of your regulatory controls

Regulatory Change Management

Tracking & implementing new obligations

Regulatory Reporting

Periodic returns, calculations & submissions

Senior Manager Accountability

SM regime mapping & accountability frameworks

Compliance Officer Support

Outsourced & co-sourced compliance resource

Licensing & Applications

Regulatory licence & permissions applications

Regulatory Engagement

Examination prep & regulator relationship mgmt

Compliance Framework Design

We design and implement comprehensive compliance frameworks for regulated firms — translating each regulator's rulebook into practical policies, procedures, controls, and governance structures that your team can operate and your regulator can inspect.

WHEN IT FITS

Your firm is newly licensed or restructuring compliance
Existing policies are outdated or non-rulebook-specific
A regulator has identified framework gaps
You are expanding into a new jurisdiction

WHAT WE DELIVER

Compliance policy & procedure library
Regulatory obligations register
Conduct risk framework & appetite
Compliance function operating model
Controls mapping to regulator rulebook
Board & committee compliance reporting

VIEW DETAILS

Compliance Monitoring & Testing

We design and execute ongoing compliance monitoring programmes — testing your controls against your regulatory obligations on a risk-based schedule, evidencing compliance, and identifying control gaps before they become regulatory findings.

WHEN IT FITS

You need ongoing assurance between external reviews
A regulator expects evidence of active monitoring
Your monitoring programme is manual or inconsistent
Controls test results are required for board reporting

WHAT WE DELIVER

Risk-based monitoring plan
Annual compliance testing schedule
Control testing & working papers
Exception & breach log
Management reporting on compliance posture
Board & audit committee pack

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Regulatory Change Management

We track regulatory change across DFSA, FSRA, CBUAE, CMA, VARA, SAMA, QFCRA, FSA, and CBO — assessing the impact on your business and managing implementation of new obligations through to evidence of compliance.

WHEN IT FITS

Regulatory change is constant and hard to track
A new rulebook or consultation paper requires impact assessment
Your compliance team lacks capacity to absorb new obligations
Regulatory deadlines are approaching

WHAT WE DELIVER

Regulatory horizon scanning service
Impact assessment on new rules
Implementation planning & tracking
Policy & procedure updates
Regulatory gap closure
Evidence of compliance to regulator

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Regulatory Reporting

We prepare, review, and submit periodic regulatory returns and notifications on behalf of our clients — covering financial, conduct, and prudential reporting obligations across the DFSA, FSRA, CBUAE, CMA, SAMA, QFCRA, and FSA regulatory frameworks.

WHEN IT FITS

Periodic returns are complex, resource-intensive, or delayed
A new obligation requires regulatory submission
You need independent review before submission
Your team lacks in-jurisdiction reporting expertise

WHAT WE DELIVER

Regulatory return preparation & review
DFSA & FSRA annual reporting
Prudential & conduct data submissions
Regulatory notification management
Regulatory filing calendar management
Submission reconciliation & sign-off

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Senior Manager Accountability

We map senior manager responsibilities to regulatory accountability frameworks — covering the DFSA's Prescribed Persons regime, FSRA's Approved Individuals requirements, SAMA's Governance Standards, and equivalent regimes across the Gulf — producing documented accountability maps and supporting evidence.

WHEN IT FITS

Your firm is establishing or refreshing senior accountability
A Prescribed Officer or Approved Individual has changed
A regulator has queried governance and accountability
You are preparing for a regulatory inspection

WHAT WE DELIVER

Responsibility map & statements
Prescribed Person / Approved Individual dossiers
Governance gap assessment
Board effectiveness review
Accountability delegation documentation
Regulatory submission support

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Compliance Officer Support

We provide outsourced, co-sourced, and interim senior compliance officer resource across the Gulf — covering DFSA Compliance Officer, FSRA Compliance Officer, SAMA Chief Compliance Officer, QFCRA Compliance Officer, and equivalent prescribed roles for regulated firms.

WHEN IT FITS

Your firm has a compliance leadership vacancy or capacity gap
You need a named Compliance Officer for a regulatory submission
Your CO is departing or on leave
You are a smaller firm seeking experienced compliance cover

WHAT WE DELIVER

Outsourced Compliance Officer function
Interim / named CO for regulator
Co-sourced compliance team support
Compliance calendar & oversight management
Escalation protocols & board reporting
Transition & handover to in-house hire

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Licensing & Regulatory Applications

We prepare and manage regulatory licence applications, variations of permission, and category upgrades across DFSA, FSRA, CBUAE, CMA (UAE & KSA), VARA, SAMA, QFCRA, and FSA — giving applicants the best possible basis for approval.

WHEN IT FITS

Your firm is applying for a new financial services licence
You are adding a regulated activity or investment product
A change of control or restructuring requires re-authorisation
You need a VARA VASP licence or category change

WHAT WE DELIVER

Licence application strategy & scoping
Application drafting & document preparation
Regulatory business plan & financial projections
Compliance framework & policy preparation
Regulator liaison & query management
Approved Individual / Prescribed Person applications

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Regulatory Engagement & Examination Management

We prepare firms for regulatory examinations, thematic reviews, and supervisory visits — and support them through the process, from document preparation and mock examination to managing the regulator's follow-up and responding to findings.

WHEN IT FITS

A regulatory examination or thematic review is scheduled
Your firm has received a supervisory information request
Examination findings require a formal response plan
You want a mock inspection before the real one

WHAT WE DELIVER

Examination readiness assessment
Document & evidence pack preparation
Mock regulatory examination
Regulator meeting preparation & coaching
Post-examination response & remediation plan
Ongoing supervisory relationship management

VIEW DETAILS

WHO WE SERVE

Regulated firms across the Gulf

Our compliance advisory practice serves the full range of firms supervised by Gulf financial regulators.

Banks & Finance Companies

CBUAE · SAMA · QCB · CBO

Asset & Wealth Managers

DFSA · FSRA · QFCRA · CMA

Investment Firms

CMA (UAE & KSA) · DFSA · FSRA

Insurance Companies

CBUAE · SAMA · FSA · QCB

Payment & Fintech Firms

CBUAE · SAMA · DFSA · FSRA

Virtual Asset Providers

VARA · FSRA · DFSA

Exchange Houses & MSBs

CBUAE · SAMA · CBO

Professional Services Firms

DFSA · FSRA · QFCRA

HOW WE ENGAGE

From first conversation to compliance delivered

Every engagement follows the same simple, transparent path — whatever the service, jurisdiction, or complexity.

Discovery Call

Understand your regulatory position, obligations, and compliance priorities

Scope & Proposal

Tailored scope, engagement approach, fixed or retainer fee

Mobilisation

5C findings, root cause, risk rating, quality review

Delivery

Compliance work executed with regular progress reporting

Handover & Support

Documentation handed over with ongoing support available