Consider before registration

Before you apply for registration, make sure you are well prepared. That means going through our current regulations  and guidance on the registration process, getting advice from ancillary service providers if needed, and having all your documents finalised and signed. Please note that drafts documents will not be reviewed, and full compliance with regulations is expected.

To become an AIFC Participant, you can select one of the following options — depending on your current setup and business goals:

• Incorporate a new entity in the AIFC – set up a new legal entity directly within the AIFC framework. Explore the legal forms of participants and select the one that best aligns with your objectives.

• Register a Foreign company or partnership – if you already operate a company or partnership outside the AIFC, you can register it here as a recognised company, recognised general partnership, recognised limited partnership or recognised limited liability partnership.

• Redomicile an existing legal entity – transfer your business from another jurisdiction to the AIFC. Refer to out detailed guidance on the transfer of incorporation to learn more about the required procedures and documentation.

If your entity plans to provide financial or ancillary services in or from the AIFC, you must first go through the authorisation process with AFSA before submitting your registration application.

The types of services authorised by AFSA are as follows:

• Regulated Activities
• Market Activities
• Ancillary Services

If your business does not intend to conduct financial or ancillary services in or from the AIFC, you may proceed directly with the registration process.

PROVIDING FULL DISCLOSURE

You are required to provide complete and accurate information in response to our request.  Please note that if we discover any information has been deliberately withheld, or found to be false or incomplete, your application may be declined.

When in doubt, it is always better to disclose information rather than omit it.

IMPORTANT

Under Section 200 of the AIFC Companies Regulations, it is an offence to provide the Registrar with any statement or information (whether orally, in writing, or otherwise) that is false or misleading in a material respect, or to submit or conceal a document in a way that is likely to mislead or deceive. A contravention of this provision within the AIFC is punishable by a fine.