In the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the pursuit of global financial leadership is intrinsically linked to the rigour of its regulation. As the ecosystem accelerates, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) plays a vital role in ensuring that this expansion is built on resilience, responsibility, and unwavering adherence to global standards. This crucial balance between growth and governance was the core theme of the DFSA Annual Outreach 2025. The event—attended by CEOs, Compliance Executives, and Senior Management—served as a definitive strategic briefing on the regulatory roadmap for the years ahead. For ONS FinServ Ltd, an independent global service provider offering fund support, administrative, corporate, and business solutions to clients worldwide, understanding this roadmap is essential. ONS FinServ was present to absorb these direct insights, and Aditya Gupta, Global Client Partner at ONS FinServ Ltd, viewed the regulatory discussions not as obstacles, but as the essential bedrock for sustainable success.
Attending the Outreach was a strategic necessity, reflecting a firm-wide philosophy that positions compliance as a competitive advantage. “I attended the DFSA Annual Outreach Program because, as a DFSA-regulated firm operating in DIFC, it’s extremely important for us to stay closely aligned with the regulator’s expectations,” explained Mr.Gupta. This alignment goes beyond procedural adherence. In an environment defined by rapid transactions and cutting-edge innovation, understanding the regulator’s forward vision is key to managing client risk.
“Compliance is not just a requirement, it’s a core part of how we advise clients, structure funds, and manage ongoing administration. The outreach gives direct visibility into how the DFSA is thinking about supervision, enforcement, innovation, and financial crime, which helps us stay proactive rather than reactive.” Mr. Gupta noted that the program was deeply practical, linking regulatory expectations directly to real supervisory outcomes. This practical focus was coupled with a strong emphasis on accountability, particularly at the highest levels of management. “My overall impression was that the program was very practical and forward-looking. It wasn’t theoretical… There was also a strong emphasis on accountability, especially at senior management level, which reflects how DIFC regulation is evolving in line with global standards,” Mr. Gupta confirmed.
The DFSA’s session on Prudential Supervision reinforced that financial resilience and governance quality are under intense scrutiny. The regulator is moving past the simple metric of capital adequacy to assessing a firm’s deeper ability to manage risk. “The Prudential Supervision update reinforced that DFSA is closely assessing whether firms are financially resilient and properly governed,” stated Mr. Gupta. “It’s not only about meeting minimum capital thresholds, but also about understanding the firm’s business model, risk appetite, and ability to withstand stress. DFSA clearly expects firms to understand why they are capitalised a certain way, not just that they are.” This signals a move toward a more qualitative, strategic engagement from the DFSA, where firms must fully justify their financial structures and demonstrate the ability to endure market shocks, a critical area where ONS FinServ supports its fund clients globally.
The discussion on Conduct of Business Supervision focused on protecting the integrity of the market by prioritising fair client outcomes. The regulator is raising the bar, demanding that firms ensure clients fully grasp the risks and complexities of products and services. “The Conduct of Business session strongly emphasised client outcomes and fairness,” he observed. “DFSA made it clear that firms must ensure clients fully understand products, risks, and services – not just sign disclosures.” A key area of concern was the management of internal pressures, ensuring that a firm’s own commercial goals do not compromise client welfare. “There was also a strong message around conflicts of interest and ensuring that internal incentives do not compromise client interests,” Mr. Gupta added. This relentless focus confirms that the DIFC is dedicated to maintaining a high-trust environment where ethical conduct is paramount.
Perhaps the most immediately critical discussion was the UAE’s preparation for the FATF Mutual Evaluation 2026. This evaluation is not focused on the mere existence of policies, but on the practical effectiveness of anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) controls. “The FATF 2026 session was extremely relevant. It highlighted that regulators are moving beyond whether firms have AML policies, to whether those policies actually work in practice,” stated Mr. Gupta. The scrutiny will be forensic, demanding flawless execution across multiple functions. “Documentation, transaction monitoring, source of funds analysis, and senior management oversight will all be closely examined, not only at firm level, but systemically across the UAE,” he warned. This reinforces the need for technological and process maturity that can flawlessly connect written policy to daily operational output, ensuring a verifiable audit trail for every administrative and corporate solution provided.
The insights gathered at the Outreach immediately translate into ONS FinServ’s business model, which is built around the concept of a long-term partnership with clients. “These insights reinforce our approach of acting as a long-term partner to clients,” Mr. Gupta affirmed. The firm focuses on embedding regulatory readiness from the very start, ensuring structures are not only compliant at launch but throughout their lifespan. “We focus heavily on governance, documentation, AML robustness, and regulatory readiness not just at launch, but throughout the lifecycle of a fund or structure. This allows our clients to grow confidently within the DFSA framework.” This strategy, which runs across the provision of their global corporate and fund services, ensures that ONS FinServ’s clients are positioned to meet high regulatory expectations confidently, enabling them to focus on growth while the compliance framework remains robust.
The DFSA Annual Outreach 2025 clarified the path forward for the DIFC: strong regulation is the foundation of high-integrity growth. The event provided the essential clarity for firms to align early and reduce regulatory friction for themselves and their clients. “Direct engagement with the regulator provides clarity that no circular or rulebook can fully replace. It helps firms align early, reduce regulatory friction, and ultimately strengthens DIFC’s credibility as a global financial centre,” Mr. Gupta concluded.
Ultimately, the key takeaway is that the DFSA’s rigorous approach is not a barrier, but the defining feature that establishes the DIFC as a trusted jurisdiction for global capital.
