Representative Office
Key Requirements
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Must be a branch of a foreign firm regulated in its home jurisdiction (not a UAE entity)
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The parent company must be licensed by a recognized financial services regulator.
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Must appoint a Principal Representative resident in the UAE, with sector experience and a clean record.
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Must lease physical office space within DIFC (desk space permitted)
Permitted Activities
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Promote and market financial products/services of the parent or group companies.
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Make introductions/referrals to the parent entity.
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Distribute marketing materials and investment research.
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Provide information about group products/services
Prohibited Activities
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Cannot advise on or arrange deals in investments.
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Cannot provide investment recommendations or transmit client orders.
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Cannot invoice clients or handle client money
FAQs
Yes, but only in a limited capacity. It may act as a local contact point, raise the profile of its head office, and share market intelligence on trends, opportunities, and developments within the DIFC.
Well-prepared applications can be completed in 10 - 12 weeks, though it may take up to 6 months.
A representative office is not permitted to advise on or arrange investment deals, provide investment recommendations, transmit client orders, invoice clients, or handle client money.
No, A Representative Office cannot market:
Any Crypto Token
Any Investment relating to a Crypto Token
Any Financial Service relating to:
a Crypto Token, or
an investment linked to a Crypto Token
Zubin Muriya is a seasoned Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) professional with over two decades of cross-jurisdictional experience in banking regulatory compliance, financial crime risk management, corporate governance framework, and audit advisory. His work across India and the GCC (UAE, Qatar, Bahrain) reflects a career rooted in regulatory rigor and operational integrity.
