UAE Finfluencer Licence 2025: Regulating Digital Financial Content

15 May 2025

Josleen Deeb

The UAE has launched the first-ever Finfluencer license in the region, designed to regulate financial influencers and digital finance content. This initiative, as of May 30, 2025, reflects the UAE's proactive approach to financial regulation in the digital age. The license aims to establish a benchmark for governing online financial content and ensure greater oversight within the fintech sector.

Dubai: As online investment commentary explodes across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and podcasts, the UAE Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA) has moved decisively to professionalize this space. In early 2025, the SCA launched the region’s first Finfluencer licence, setting clear legal standards for anyone offering market analysis, investment tips or promotional content on regulated products.

Why the Finfluencer Licence Matters

•           Investor Protection: Ensures retail audiences receive fact-checked, compliant advice rather than unvetted, high-risk recommendations.

•           Market Integrity: Holds digital creators to the same anti-fraud and disclosure rules as traditional financial advisers.

•           Innovation Safeguard: Strikes a balance between fostering vibrant digital-finance content and preventing market abuse or misinformation.

Introducing the Finfluencer licence is a strategic move to redefine regulators’ role in the UAE digital economy

Who Needs to Be Licensed?

Any individual or organisation that creates or distributes content influencing investment decisions in UAE-regulated markets—including:

• Stock-market commentary and buy/sell tips
• Crypto or forex analysis and recommendations
• Crowdfunding or digital-securities promotions
• Investment-focused webinars, newsletters or social-media channels

Even unpaid influencers crossing a de-minimis engagement threshold or whose content reaches a certain audience size must register.

Key Features of the New Framework

How to Apply for a Finfluencer Licence

1. Prepare Your Dossier
• Certified copies of qualifications or exam certificate
• Sample content and editorial guidelines
• AML/KYC policy and privacy-compliance statement
2. Submit Online via SCA Portal
• Expect a 4–6-week review, including an interview or demo presentation.
3. Receive Provisional Approval
• Begin publishing with the “SCA-licensed Finfluencer” badge under supervision.
4. Full Licence Issued
• After three months of compliant activity, you’ll receive a full three-year licence certificate.

Enforcement & Penalties

• Content Removals: Non-compliant posts can be ordered taken down within 24 hours.
• Fines: From AED 100,000 for first-time misstatements to AED 500,000 plus 12-month bans for repeated breaches.
• Revocation: Licence may be permanently revoked for fraudulent advice or serious conflicts of interest.

Broader UAE Digital Finance Vision

The Finfluencer licence complements parallel initiatives:

• VARA’s Virtual-Asset Regulations in Dubai
• DFSA’s Crypto-Token Framework in DIFC
• Crowdfunding & Digital-Securities Rules under SCA

Together, these regimes position the UAE as a balanced yet dynamic hub for fintech, virtual assets and now regulated financial-content creation.

What you should consider if you promote financial products in the UAE?

• Strategy: Determine whether you need a Finfluencer licence or a broader financial-services authorisation.
• Preparation: Draft licences, compliance manuals, AML/KYC frameworks and content-governance policies.
• Application: Verify the SCA portal, prepare for interviews and manage follow-up queries.
• Ongoing Compliance: Conduct quarterly audits, assist with renewals and defend against any enforcement action.

Conclusion

The UAE’s Finfluencer licence elevates digital finance creators to a new professional standard—protecting consumers, boosting market credibility and ensuring online influencers contribute positively to the country’s fintech ecosystem. Whether you are an established market commentator or a startup financial-education platform, obtaining your Finfluencer licence is now essential.

ALKETBI TOUCH

Contact our Digital team today for bespoke legal support in securing your licence, crafting compliant content and thriving as a recognised Finfluencer in the UAE.