DIFC regulatory amendment law enacted

dubai — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has enacted the Regulatory Law Amendment Law, DIFC Law No. (6) of 2018.

The law, which amends the Regulatory Law 2004, will come into force on October 29, 2018. Together with changes to DFSA Anti-Money Laundering Rules, the law will make a number of important changes to the regulatory regime in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The amendments follow a self-assessment of the DIFC framework in preparation for the upcoming UAE financial action task force (FATF) mutual evaluation in 2019.

The amendments will enhance the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) regime. This will support the ongoing alignment of the DIFC regime with the FATF recommendations.

The changes include updating the DFSA’s approach to registration and supervision of designated non-financial businesses or professions (DNFBPs).

This includes a prohibition from conducting any DNFBP activities, in or from the DIFC, without registration by the DFSA.

The changes also include enhancements to the supervisory regime, which will enable the DFSA to suspend or withdraw the registration of a DNFBP, if it is in breach of the law or the rules or other AML legislation.