Starting a payments company in Dubai is a straightforward process. Getting your business up and running involves just eight steps: research your market and build a business plan; choose your jurisdiction; select a legal structure; register your trade name and company; apply for a payments or fintech license; secure approval from the Central Bank of the UAE; set up your office and operational systems; and open a corporate bank account before launching your operations.
Dubai’s rise as a fintech and digital payments hub didn’t happen by accident. The government has pushed for a cashless economy, banks have modernised, and consumers use cash less each year. The result is a place where launching a payments business feels far more achievable than you might expect.
Digital adoption across the UAE – whether in online shopping, logistics, hospitality, or government services – has created a steady appetite for new solutions. Regulations have matured, investors are active, and businesses are open to trying new payment tools if it helps them move faster. In that climate, understanding how to start a payments company in Dubai gives you direct access to a market that rewards innovation and stability.
It also helps that Dubai blends pro-business policies with strong digital infrastructure. Whether you’re looking to build a payment gateway, issue stored value, or something more ambitious, the ecosystem supports early-stage experimentation as well as long-term scale.
This guide walks you through everything in plain terms: regulations, steps, documents, costs, and benefits. You’ll also see how Trade License Zone manages the heavy lifting, leaving you free to focus on shaping your product, team, and growth.
Why start a payments company in Dubai?
You should start a payments company in Dubai because the emirate is one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payments markets, supported by strong regulations, advanced technology infrastructure, and a tax-friendly environment. Dubai offers a stable, innovation-driven ecosystem where fintech companies can grow quickly.
There’s a reason so many global and regional payment players have set up here. The city operates as both a financial capital and a thriving technology hub, with accessible regulators and clear frameworks. Cashless payments are encouraged at every level, and that alone creates consistent demand for better tools and faster integrations.
On top of that, Dubai’s tax landscape is a serious competitive advantage. With no personal income tax and business-friendly corporate rules, founders can direct more of their budget to engineering, compliance, and expansion.
The market is also changing quickly. Consumers expect seamless online checkouts, tap-to-pay, digital wallets, and subscription billing. Businesses – from cafés to clinics to e-commerce stores – rely on integrated payment systems that need constant innovation, paving the way for new entrants.
DIFC and similar hubs provide fintechs with space to experiment, partner and grow. Their accelerators and sandboxes allow startups to refine their models under proper supervision before going fully to market.
Taken together, Dubai offers something rare: high demand, strong rules, and an open door for payment innovation.
What are the regulations for payments companies in Dubai
Payments companies in Dubai are regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), which oversees licensing categories such as Payment Service Provider (PSP), Stored Value Facility (SVF), and Payment Gateway approvals. Businesses must also meet strict compliance obligations, including anti-money laundering (AML) rules, cybersecurity requirements, and data protection laws.
Once your business touches customer funds – whether you store them, move them, or process them – the Central Bank becomes your primary regulator. The categories under the CBUAE define how companies manage risk, store value, secure data, and maintain financial stability.
PSP licences cover processing and merchant acquisition, while SVF approval is designed for digital wallets, top-up balances, and prepaid systems. Payment Gateways need their own form of approval to operate legally.
But licensing is only one part of the equation. Payments companies must also show regulators that they can detect fraud, monitor transactions, manage cybersecurity threats, and protect customer data. AML and CTF frameworks must be documented and implemented, not just drafted.
Some fintechs operating from DIFC must also work with the DFSA, but anything relating to stored value or fund movement ultimately falls back to Central Bank oversight.
The framework may feel strict at first, but it’s what enables the UAE to maintain a secure and trusted payments environment.
What are the steps to set up a payments company in Dubai?
You can set up a payments company in Dubai by researching the market, choosing a jurisdiction, forming your company, applying for the right license, securing Central Bank approval, establishing your infrastructure, and opening a corporate bank account. Once those steps are complete, you can begin onboarding customers and operating legally.
Step 1: Conduct market research and create a detailed fintech business plan
Start with a close look at the market. Who will you serve? What gaps exist? Which competitors already operate here? Once you understand the landscape, outline your product, operations, compliance plans, revenue model, and tech stack. Regulators and banks will want to see a realistic, detailed plan.
Trade License Zone can help shape the structure and guide you through documentation so your application is solid from the start.
Step 2: Choose your jurisdiction (DIFC, mainland, or free zone)
Your jurisdiction shapes the regulatory path ahead.
- Mainland gives you broad flexibility across the UAE.
- Free zones offer cost benefits and a straightforward setup.
- DIFC is the region’s financial centre with its own regulator and ecosystem.
Your long-term roadmap – fundraising plans, licensing needs, target customers – will determine which option fits best.
Step 3: Decide on your company structure
Most companies choose an LLC or a free zone entity. This affects shareholder rights, governance, and regulatory reporting. Fintech founders planning to raise capital later often opt for structures that investors are familiar with to avoid restructuring later.
Step 4: Register your trade name and company
Choose your trade name, submit shareholder documents, and complete the incorporation forms. Once approved, the jurisdiction issues your formation documents, and you can move into licensing.
Step 5: Apply for a payments or fintech license from the relevant authority
If your product revolves around payment technology – software, API integrations, processing tools – you’ll apply for a fintech-related licence with your jurisdiction. If you handle or store customer funds, you’ll also need to apply via the correct Central Bank category (PSP, SVF, or Gateway). Regulators will review your business model, compliance approach, and key personnel.
Step 6: Secure approval from the Central Bank of the UAE (if applicable)
If your activity involves the movement of funds or the storage of value, Central Bank approval is mandatory. The CBUAE reviews your cybersecurity posture, AML controls, risk framework, and operational readiness. They may request further documents, system tests, or capital confirmation before approval.
Step 7: Set up office space and operational infrastructure
Secure physical office space (required) and begin setting up the systems you’ll rely on – payment gateways, data storage, encryption, monitoring tools, and integrations with financial institutions. You’ll also appoint your Compliance Officer and MLRO.
Step 8: Open a corporate bank account and launch operations
Banks conduct deep due diligence for fintechs. Expect them to review your approvals, shareholder profiles, and operational plans. Once your account is active, you can onboard merchants and begin live operations.
What documents are required to start a payments company in Dubai?
The typical documents needed to start a payments company in Dubai include:
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors
- Emirates ID copies (if applicable)
- Trade name reservation certificate
- Initial approvals
- Memorandum of Association (MOA) for LLC structures or free zone incorporation documents
- Detailed business plan
- Proof of funds meeting minimum capital requirements (varies by licence type)
- Office lease or Ejari
- Appointment letters for Compliance Officer and MLRO
- AML/CTF program
- Cybersecurity and data protection policies
- Central Bank application forms for PSP, SVF, or other payments categories (if your business handles, processes, or stores funds)
- DIFC/DFSA regulatory forms (only if setting up in DIFC)
- Technical documentation for your solution
Regulators may ask for additional material depending on your model and risk profile. Preparing these documents early helps fast-track your application and avoid compliance delays.
What is the cost of a payments company license in Dubai?
The cost of a payments company license in Dubai typically ranges from AED 35,000 to AED 100,000+, depending on the jurisdiction, license type, and whether Central Bank approval is required. Additional expenses apply for regulatory filings, office space, compliance infrastructure, and banking setup.
Regulated payment activities – PSPs, SVFs, Gateways – are usually at the higher end due to technical reviews and regulatory scrutiny. Expect to budget separately for cybersecurity tools, AML software, professional services, visas, and banking requirements.
Costs vary, but planning early helps avoid surprises during approval.
What are the benefits of starting a payments company in Dubai
Starting a payments company in Dubai offers entrepreneurs access to a fast-growing digital payments market, supportive fintech regulations, 0% personal income tax, global connectivity, and strong collaboration opportunities with banks, startups, and investors. The ecosystem is built for scale, innovation, and long-term stability.
1. Access to a rapidly growing digital payments market
Digital payments adoption is rising across almost every industry. Consumers expect speed; businesses want reliability. That creates steady room for innovation.
2. Supportive government policies and fintech regulations
The UAE’s regulatory environment gives clarity without stifling innovation. Sandboxes and structured frameworks help fintechs develop safely.
3. 0% personal tax and 0%–9% corporate income tax
This benefit alone frees up meaningful resources for companies to reinvest into teams, technology, and compliance.
4. Strategic location connecting global financial markets
Dubai’s geographic position and international reach make it a natural hub for cross-border payment solutions.
5. Opportunities to collaborate with banks, startups, and investors
Accelerators, meetups, and fintech hubs create regular opportunities for partnerships and funding.
Why work with Trade License Zone?
You should work with Trade License Zone because we streamline every stage of setting up your payments company in Dubai – from choosing the right jurisdiction to preparing compliance documentation, securing regulatory approvals, and launching operations. Our team handles the complex steps so you can focus on building and scaling your fintech business.
Trade License Zone helps founders navigate the full process for business setup in Dubai: licensing, company formation, Central Bank preparation, office setup, and key personnel appointments. We also support banking introductions, visa processes, renewals, and ongoing compliance.
With our experience in fintech setups, we help reduce delays, avoid regulatory setbacks, and give you confidence from start to finish.
Are you ready to start your payments company in Dubai? Contact Trade License Zone today to provide the expertise and guidance to get you launched quickly, correctly and confidently.
