Open under your license
- Financial planning and budgeting advice
- Feasibility and valuation studies
- Corporate finance and funding advice
- Risk and financial structuring
- Business and strategy consulting
Financial Consultancy License in Dubai
Start a financial consultancy in Dubai. See what the license lets you advise on, where regulated activity begins, the cost, and how Riz & Mona sets it up.
Excellent
Advise on finance and strategy
Mainland, free zone, or DIFC
100% foreign ownership
Excellent
Advise for a living
What is a financial consultancy license in Dubai? financial consultancy license
A financial consultancy license lets you advise clients on financial and business matters for a fee. You can guide strategy, feasibility, and financial structuring. It is a professional license, issued by DET on the mainland or by a free zone, and it is what makes your advice a legal business.
There is a line you need to know from day one. Advising on planning, feasibility, and structure is open to you. Advising on securities or managing client money is regulated, and that needs a separate license from the CMA, DFSA, or FSRA. Most consultancies sit on the open side.
Dubai is the region's financial centre, so demand for credible advisers runs deep. Riz & Mona has set up consultancies here since 2009, and we make sure your license matches exactly what you plan to advise on, before you file.
Why Dubai
Why start a financial consultancy in Dubai financial consultancy
Dubai runs on advice. Companies here need feasibility studies, funding plans, and financial structure, and they pay for people who know the market. The license gives you a credible base to sell that.
- Advise UAE and regional clients from a recognised base
- Own your firm 100% with no local partner
- Keep your income with zero personal income tax
- Bid on government and corporate advisory work
- Sponsor your own visa and hire a team
- Open a corporate bank account clients trust
What you can advise on
What your financial consultancy can do financial consultancy
Under the professional license, your advisory scope is broad. These are the services you can offer clients without needing a financial regulator's approval.
Financial planning advice
Guide clients on budgeting, cash flow, and financial goals.
Feasibility studies
Assess whether a project or venture stacks up financially.
Corporate finance advisory
Advise on funding structure, capital raising, and deals.
Risk assessment
Identify and plan around financial and business risk.
Financial structuring
Help shape how a company is financed and organised.
Business and strategy
Advise on strategy, market entry, and operations.
Know the line
What you can advise on, and what needs a regulator needs a regulator
Needs CMA, DFSA, or FSRA
- Advising on specific securities or investments
- Managing client funds or portfolios
- Executing trades for clients
- Brokerage or dealing activity
- Operating as a financial institution
Cost
How much does a financial consultancy license cost? financial consultancy license
A non-regulated consultancy license is affordable. Free zone is the leanest, mainland gives you direct UAE reach, and a regulated DIFC setup is a different order entirely.
Free zone
From AED 12,000
A cost-effective advisory license with a flexi-desk and visa options.
Mainland (DET)
From AED 25,000
A professional license to advise UAE clients directly, before office and visas.
Regulated (DIFC)
Quoted per case
A DFSA-regulated setup for genuine investment advice, priced separately.
What moves the price
Jurisdiction
Free zone is leanest; mainland reaches local clients; DIFC is regulated.
Regulation
A regulated license carries capital, compliance, and regulator fees.
Visa quota
More team visas mean higher cost and a larger office.
Office choice
A flexi-desk is the cheapest base; a fitted office raises the total.
A note on pricing
All figures are indicative and current at the time of writing. Costs vary by jurisdiction, activity, visa quota, and whether your work is regulated, and government fees change. Riz & Mona provides a personalised, itemised quote for your setup before any payment.
The steps
How to get your financial consultancy license financial consultancy license
The first step decides everything, because your exact advisory scope tells us whether you need a financial regulator at all.
Step 1
Confirm your advisory scope
We check whether your services are open advice or cross into regulated territory.
Step 2
Choose jurisdiction
Mainland, free zone, or DIFC, matched to your clients and your budget.
Step 3
Reserve your trade name
A compliant name is filed with DET or your chosen free zone authority.
Step 4
Initial approval
The authority confirms your activity and clears you to proceed.
Step 5
License issued
On approval, your professional license is granted, usually in 1 to 2 weeks.
Step 6
Visas and bank account
We set up your establishment card, visas, and a corporate bank account.
Where to set up
Where can you base your financial consultancy? financial consultancy
Your base follows your clients and whether your work is regulated. These are the routes we set up most for advisers.
DET mainland
Advise UAE clients directly and bid on local and government work.
- Serve local clients directly
- Bid on government advisory work
- 100% ownership for consultancy
- Office anywhere in Dubai
IFZA free zone
A flexible, low-cost free zone for multi-activity advisory setups.
- Cost-effective packages
- Multiple activities allowed
- Quick digital setup
- Good for new consultants
Meydan free zone
A budget-friendly base popular with independent consultants.
- Low-cost entry
- Flexi-desk options
- Fast licensing
- Solo and small firms
DMCC free zone
A prestigious free zone for high-profile advisory firms.
- Strong global reputation
- Large business community
- Premium address
- International clients
DIFC (regulated)
The financial centre for genuine regulated investment advice.
- DFSA-regulated activity
- Common-law framework
- For investment advisers
- Higher cost and compliance
Dubai South
A cost-friendly free zone with financial advisory activity codes.
- Affordable advisory license
- Financial consultancy code
- Visa eligibility
- Near the airport
Financial consultancy Dubai
Ready to launch your financial consultancy?
Tell Riz & Mona what you plan to advise on. We confirm your scope, whether you need a regulator, and your real cost, then set up the whole license so you can start advising.
Scope checked first•Right jurisdiction chosen•Full setup and visas•Itemised quote up front
All costs are indicative and change over time. Riz & Mona provides a personalised quote for your financial consultancy setup.