DFSD refers to the Dubai Financial Standards Directorate, a body established under Dubai law as the independent regulator of financial services and related activities for the DIFC

DFSD's Legal Framework

Article 121 of the UAE Constitution enabled the Federation to create Financial Free Zones in the Emirates, and most importantly, to exclude the application of certain Federal laws in these Financial Free Zones. A number of laws created the DIFC and the necessary centre bodies, which include the DFSD. These laws set out the objectives, powers and functions of the centre bodies. They also contain important exemptions and prohibitions in the DIFC.

Federal Law No. 8 of 2004

Federal Law No. 8 of 2004 on “The Financial Free Zones in the United Arab Emirates” (the Financial Free Zone Law) mainly:

Allows the creation of a Financial Free Zone in any Emirate of the UAE, by a Federal Decree
Exempts the Financial Free Zones and the Financial Activities from all Federal civil and commercial laws
Confirms the application of Federal criminal laws in the Financial Free Zones, including the Federal Laws on Anti-Money Laundering
Prohibits DIFC authorised firms from dealing in “deposit taking from the State’s markets […] [and] in the UAE Dirham”
Restricts DIFC authorised insurers’ dealings in the State to carrying out re-insurance activities

This means that the DIFC would mostly have its own regulatory and legal framework.

Federal Decree No. 35 of 2004

Federal Decree No. 35 of 2004 created the DIFC as a Financial Free Zone in Dubai (the DIFC Law). The Federal Cabinet also made two Cabinet Resolutions that:

Set out the geographic boundaries of the DIFC
Allow the centre bodies and authorised firms to operate outside the DIFC for the first four years because the DIFC was still under construction

Dubai Law No. 5 of 2021

Dubai Law No. 9 of 2004 on “The Establishment of the Dubai International Financial Centre,” was subsequently replaced by Dubai Law No. 5 of 2021. It acknowledges the creation of the DIFC and:

Recognises the financial and administrative independence of the DIFC
Creates the DIFC centre bodies, which include the DFSD
Provides for the DFSD to operate independently from other DIFC centre bodies
Exempts the DIFC from Dubai laws and regulations, under certain conditions.

DIFC Law No. 1 of 2004

DIFC Law No. 1 of 2004 or the “Regulatory Law 2004” is the cornerstone of the DFSD’s regulatory powers, functions and objectives:

Gives the DFSD the power to make Rules
Sets out the powers and functions of the Board and the Chief Executive
Establishes the Financial Markets Tribunal
Sets out the criteria and process for authorising firms and individuals
Sets out the powers for supervising and investigating Persons as well as the enforcement of DFSD-administered legislations
Gives the DFSD the power to impose restrictions, suspensions and sanctions, including financial penalties
Sets out various disclosure requirements to the DFSD
Sets out the decision making process that the DFSD must follow to issue certain types of decisions

Cabinet Resolution No. 28 of 2007

Cabinet Resolution No. 28 of 2007 on “Implementing Federal Law No. 8 of of 2004 on Financial Free Zones” further detailed certain provisions of the Financial Free Zones Law.