On 21 April 2026, Sahm Financial Limited — the UAE entity of fintech group Valuable Capital Group Limited — was granted a licence by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to operate within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The licence authorises the firm to advise on financial products, arrange deals in investments, and deal in investments as agent. It also permits Sahm to serve retail clients and to hold or control client assets under DFSA oversight.
Sahm already holds a licence from the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA), obtained in 2024, and reports over one million users on its trading platform, which covers Saudi and US markets. Regulated status in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE positions the group to serve investors across the broader GCC.
What this means for our clients
For founders and investors relocating to the UAE, this development is a useful data point: the DIFC continues to attract regulated fintech and investment services firms, expanding the range of DFSA-supervised platforms available in the market. Retail clients dealing with a DFSA-licensed firm benefit from the DFSA's investor protection framework, including rules around the holding of client assets. When evaluating any investment platform, we recommend confirming its regulated status directly on the DFSA's public register before committing funds.
For businesses considering a DIFC presence of their own, Sahm's licensing path illustrates the typical sequence: establish a UAE entity, apply for the relevant DFSA licence category, and demonstrate compliance with conduct and capital requirements. Each licence category carries its own conditions, and the timeline can vary. If you are exploring a regulated financial services setup in the DIFC or another UAE jurisdiction, we are happy to walk through the options with you — read the full announcement on the DIFC website or book a consultation with Sirius.