We offer tailored regulatory frameworks for high-risk and niche sectors that generic compliance firms often misunderstand. Whether you operate in the Virtual Assets (VARA/ADGM) space, are a DNFBP dealing in Precious Metals or Real Estate, or a Fintech disrupting traditional banking, we translate complex, high-level regulations into specific, actionable operational controls suitable for your unique business model.
Virtual asset service providers licensed by VARA in Dubai or the FSRA in ADGM face the fastest-moving rulebook in the region. We build frameworks that satisfy the supervisor without stalling the product roadmap.
VARA licensing & activity conditions
Application, rulebook mapping and permission scope by activity.
Travel rule & wallet screening
Originator/beneficiary data flows and blockchain analytics integration.
Custody & technology governance
Key management, segregation and incident response controls.
Market conduct
Listing, disclosure and manipulation controls for exchanges and brokers.
Real Estate & Developers
Brokers, agents and developers are DNFBPs with full AML/CFT obligations. We make the programme workable inside a sales-driven business.
goAML registration & reporting
REAR, DPMSR and STR filing workflows with named responsibilities.
Source of funds & wealth
Practical evidence standards for cash and virtual asset buyers.
Beneficial ownership
Layered corporate and offshore structures unwound and documented.
Agent training
Front-line scripts and red flag guidance that agents actually use.
Precious Metals & Stones (DPMS)
Dealers face cash-intensive, cross-border exposure and the AED 55,000 reporting threshold. We calibrate controls to the trade, not to a bank template.
DPMS threshold reporting
Cash and virtual asset transaction reporting workflows and records.
Supply chain due diligence
Counterparty and origin checks aligned to responsible sourcing norms.
Trade-based ML controls
Invoice, valuation and shipment red flags built into the process.
Record keeping
Retention and retrieval standards that survive MOE inspection.
Fintech & Payment Services
Payment institutions, SVF providers and lending platforms sit between innovation and prudential expectation. We map the perimeter before the product ships.
Licence category mapping
CBUAE, DFSA or FSRA route selected against the actual business model.
Safeguarding & client money
Segregation, reconciliation and prudential requirements operationalised.
Onboarding & eKYC
Digital identity, liveness and risk-based friction designed into the flow.
Outsourcing & BaaS
Partner bank, sponsor and third-party risk governance frameworks.
Deliverables
What we put in place
Sector-calibrated policy suite
AML/CFT manuals, sanctions and conduct policies written to your rulebook and business model, not a generic template.
Risk assessment methodology
Customer, product, channel and geography risk factors weighted for the sector’s actual typologies.
Control design & system config
Screening, monitoring and onboarding rules specified for your vendors and data.
Licensing & perimeter advice
Which authority, which permission, and what the application must evidence.
Sector training
Role-specific training for front line and management with sector red flags and case studies.
Regulatory change tracking
Rulebook amendments monitored and translated into control changes on a defined cadence.
Inspection readiness
Mock inspection, evidence pack assembly and interview preparation.
Ongoing advisory retainer
Named senior contact for product launches, novel structures and regulator questions.
How we approach a new sector mandate
01
Business model mapping
We document how value, funds and data actually move before touching a rulebook.
02
Rulebook translation
High-level obligations converted into specific control statements with owners.
03
Build & configure
Policies, procedures and system rules written, tested and signed off by the board.
04
Prove it works
Testing, training and evidence packs so the framework holds under inspection.
Why sector fluency matters
Generic frameworks fail in two directions: they miss the typologies that matter and they block business that is perfectly legitimate. Sector knowledge fixes both.
Controls calibrated to real typologies, not template risk factors
Fewer false positives and less friction in legitimate transactions
Applications and submissions that speak the regulator’s language
Frameworks that scale as the product and the rulebook evolve
FAQ
Common questions
Which sectors does RegLex specialise in?
Virtual asset service providers under VARA and ADGM, real estate brokers and developers, dealers in precious metals and stones, and fintech and payment service providers regulated by the CBUAE, DFSA or FSRA.
Who is a DNFBP in the UAE?
Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions include real estate agents and brokers, dealers in precious metals and stones, auditors, and corporate service providers. They carry AML/CFT obligations including goAML registration and reporting.
What compliance does a VASP need in Dubai?
A VARA licence for the relevant activity, plus travel rule and wallet screening, market conduct, custody and technology governance, and a full AML/CFT programme with an approved compliance officer.
Do real estate brokers need an AML programme?
Yes. Brokers and developers must register on goAML, conduct customer due diligence, report cash and virtual asset transactions above the prescribed threshold, and maintain a documented AML/CFT programme.