Compliance and Regulation
Regulated by the UAE Capital Market Authority.
Skybridge Advisory operates under CMA Licence No. 20200000272, Category 5 (Arrangement and Advice). The licence is the foundation of how we hold client capital, deliver advice, and report to the regulator. The detail below shows what that actually means.
Licence Information
- Regulatory authority
- Capital Market Authority (CMA), UAE (formerly SCA)
- Licence number
- 20200000272
- Licence category
- Category 5 · Arrangement and Advice
- Jurisdiction
- United Arab Emirates
- Office
- Office No. 906, Port Saeed New Building, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Founded
- 2018
- CMA-licensed since
- 2025 (rename from SCA framework)
What CMA regulation actually requires of us.
Suitability before recommendation.
Before we propose any structure or allocation, we are required to document who you are, what you hold, what you owe, and what you are trying to achieve. That suitability assessment becomes the file the regulator can audit at any time. It is the reason we never lead with a product.
Segregation of client assets.
Client capital is held with a regulated custodian, separate from Skybridge's own balance sheet. We do not commingle. We do not self-custody. If anything happens to the firm, client assets are not part of the firm's resolution.
Independent oversight.
Our financial statements are audited annually by AY. Our compliance function reports to the regulator on a defined schedule. Complaints have a formal escalation path that ends at the CMA, not at our front desk. Independence is not optional under our licence.
Disclosure and conflicts.
Fees, conflicts, and the basis on which we are paid are disclosed in writing in the advisory agreement before any commitment is signed. Hybrid fee structures (AUM plus performance) are documented with the hurdle and the cap. Nothing is bundled silently into product.
CMA-licensed UAE advisory vs offshore advisory.
A working comparison for clients verifying who they place capital with. The columns are stylised, but the framework is what regulators and serious clients actually look at.
| What we do | Skybridge (CMA-licensed UAE) | Offshore advisory |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator oversight | Yes · UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA, formerly SCA) | Often none, or weak with limited reach |
| Suitability obligation | Yes · documented before any recommendation | No formal obligation in many offshore regimes |
| Annual external audit | Yes · AY (local) | Self-attested, if any |
| Segregation of client assets | Yes · held with a regulated custodian | Often commingled or self-custodied |
| Investor protection framework | UAE-resident protections via CMA | Limited or jurisdiction-shopped |
| Fee and conflict disclosure | Written, before any commitment | Frequently bundled into product |
| Tax and reporting transparency | CRS-aligned, clear positions | Often opaque, opaque-by-design in some structures |
| Recourse if something goes wrong | Formal complaints route, regulator escalation | Cross-border claims, often impractical |
"Offshore" here describes advisory firms operating outside a meaningful regulatory regime. Many reputable firms hold offshore licences (DFSA, ADGM, FCA, MAS). The column is not a comment on those regimes, only on unregulated or thinly regulated advisory.
How regulation shapes our practice.
CMA oversight governs every step from client intake to investment recommendation to ongoing reporting.
What CMA regulation means
- All advisory activities are conducted under regulatory oversight
- Client assets are segregated and held with regulated custodians
- Mandatory AML and KYC procedures on every engagement
- Regular regulatory reporting and compliance audits
- Fiduciary standards governing every advisory recommendation
- Transparent fee disclosure on every engagement
Client protections
- Documented suitability assessment before any recommendation
- Written advisory agreement with clear terms and obligations
- Independent compliance oversight of all advisory activities
- Formal complaints procedure with regulatory escalation path
- Data handled under UAE PDPL and CMA confidentiality standards
Operational standards
- Annual external audit of financial statements (AY)
- Quarterly regulatory capital adequacy reporting
- Ongoing staff training and competency assessments
- Business continuity and disaster recovery planning
- Conflict-of-interest identification and management procedures
Who we work with, named, with the relationship spelled out.
| Function | Counterparty | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA, formerly SCA) · Licence No. 20200000272 | Direct (regulator) |
| External auditor (local) | AY | Direct (engaged) |
| External auditor (international) | McMillan Woods | Direct (engaged) |
| Custodian / broker | Interactive Brokers · Traders' Hub Limited | Direct counterparty (custody and execution) |
| Distribution and product partners | Franklin Templeton · BHM Capital · Morgan Creek Capital Management · ADS Investment Solutions · Noor Capital · Emirates Islamic | Distribution partner (written agreement) |
| Network and access connections | Mubadala · Abu Dhabi Investment Office · ADX · DFM | Connection / access (reached through our network or through partners of our partners; not a direct contractual relationship in every case) |
The classifications above are how Skybridge categorises each counterparty internally. Display of a name does not imply endorsement of Skybridge by that institution. For any item in the bottom row, ask Compliance for the specific access path and we will document it in writing before you act on it.
You can verify our licence directly with the UAE Capital Market Authority. Licence record: No. 20200000272.
Compliance questions, answered directly.
Questions about our regulatory status?
Our compliance function is available to discuss the licence, the audit, the custodian arrangement, and any client protection in detail before you engage.
CMA-Licensed · Licence No. 20200000272 · Dubai, UAE · AY-audited operating record