DFSA issues March 2026 legislative amendments
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has issued its Notice of Amendments to Legislation for March 2026, introducing targeted updates across its Rulebook to reflect the UAE’s evolving anti-money laundering (AML) framework and wider regulatory priorities in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). These changes follow the UAE’s new Federal AML legislative framework and build on the DFSA’s broader programme of aligning DIFC rules with international standards and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) expectations.
For regulated firms, senior management and compliance officers operating in or from the DIFC, the March 2026 amendments reinforce the need to refresh internal policies, risk assessments and assurance plans to ensure full, demonstrable compliance. The updated rule-making instruments and appendices are accessible via the “Amendments to Legislation” section of the DFSA Rulebook, and should now be treated as live obligations, not future requirements.
The DFSA Rulebook: Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Terrorist Financing and Sanctions Module (AML)
This section outlines the registration, reporting, and notification requirements for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) under the DFSA:
Mandatory Notifications: According to Rule 15.1.4, A DNFBP must notify the DFSA, by completing and submitting the appropriate form on the DFSA electronic portal, of any change in its:
- Name, legal status, address, Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), senior management, Beneficial ownership or main business activities. Main activities in the newly added one to the list
Regulatory Oversight:
The DFSA maintains the power to suspend or withdraw registration if these criteria are no longer met.
The DFSA Board made the above Rulemaking Instruments to come into force on 1 April 2026
The DFSA Rulebook Fees Module (FER)
The DFSA Board made the following Rulemaking Instruments to come into force on 1 April 2026. This section outlines the specific fee structure for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) operating under the DFSA:
1. Application Fee
Rule 2.13.1 is about One-time Cost: Every applicant seeking registration as a DNFBP must pay a flat application fee of $3,000.
2. Initial Annual Fee (Pro-rated)
Rule 3.7.1 (1) Calculation: Upon being granted registration, the firm must pay an annual fee for the remainder of that calendar year. There is no need to pay $6000 as one-time cost if registration is not happening in January.
Rule 3.7.1 (2) Formula: This is calculated by pro-rating a standard $6,000 annual rate based on the number of full months remaining in the year.
Example: If registered with 6 months left in the year, the fee would be $3,000 ($6,000 × 6 / 12).
The DFSA Rulebook Prudential – Investment, Insurance Intermediation and Banking Module (PIB)
The DFSA Board made the following Rulemaking Instrument to come into force on 1 July 2026
Major amendments include:
Under Rule 3.5.3 that mentions liquidity requirements, in addition to existing form, liquid assets comprise
- Rule 3.5.3 Section (2b) demand deposits with a tenor of 1 year or less with a regulated bank
- Rule 3.5.3 Section (2c) time deposits with a tenor of 1 year or less with a regulated bank or deposit-taker.
Among K-ASA requirement, the Rule 3.8C.4 (4) When measuring the amount of its ASA under (2)(a), an Authorised Firm must exclude any amounts that are included in the Authorised Firm’s calculation of its K-AUM Requirement - is deleted.
In K-AUM Requirement, under Rule 3.8C.5 (4), in addition to the existing (a) & (b), (c) is added which states - When measuring the amount of its AUM under (2)(a), an Authorised Firm must exclude any amounts that are included in the Authorised Firm’s calculation of its K-ASA Requirement under Rule 3.8C.4(2)(a).
Crowe UAE GRC team helps the DIFC firms with its robust knowledge and expertise in the areas of Internal Audit, GRC Advisory including AML compliance, GRC Technology, AML & GRC Training and Cyber Threat Management.
Given the global focus on virtual assets, digital systems and crossborder financial crime, the strengthened DFSA framework positions Dubai and the DIFC as a jurisdiction aligned with emerging international expectations. Early, welldocumented adoption of the March 2026 amendments will not only mitigate regulatory risk for firms but also support market confidence in the DIFC as a leading, wellregulated financial centre in the Middle East.
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