Location: Dubai, UAE (On-site / Relocation Support Provided)
Reporting to: Local CEO
About the Role
We are seeking a dedicated Chief Compliance Officer (UAE) to support the design, implementation, and continuous enhancement of our compliance programs for our Dubai-based entity. This role ensures the company operates in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, internal policies, and industry best practices, with a primary mandate to fulfill the stringent requirements of the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).
You will work closely with Legal, Risk, Product, Operations, and Business teams to strengthen compliance controls, support regulatory obligations, and foster a strong culture of compliance in a fast-paced digital asset environment. As the designated local Fit & Proper executive, you will act as the principal liaison with VARA for all the regulatory matters.
What You’ll Do
- Regulatory Leadership & VARA Oversight
- Keep abreast of rapidly evolving global crypto regulations, serving as the in-house subject matter expert on VARA Rulebooks and UAE regulatory frameworks.
- Perform efficient review and impact analysis of regulatory changes and communicate implications to Senior Management.
- Compliance Manual Development & Maintenance
- Formulate, review, and update Compliance Manuals based on regulatory activities and licensing requirements.
- Design and implement compliance-related workflows to support business and operations(), ensuring alignment with VARA’s Market Conduct and Technology/Information guidelines.
- Regulatory Filings, Inquiries & Responses
- Handle regulatory filings and manage inquiries from regulators and relevant authorities.
- Support regulatory reporting, audits, examinations, and requests from regulators or internal stakeholders.
- Ongoing Compliance Checking & Monitoring
- Conduct regular compliance checks and monitoring to ensure business activities remain compliant with regulatory requirements.
- Maintain accurate compliance documentation and case records, while driving continuous process improvements.
- Cross-functional Compliance Enablement
- Partner with Product, Operations, Risk, and Engineering to ensure new products and initiatives meet compliance requirements.
- Support and guide internal stakeholders to strengthen compliance culture and controls.
What You’ll Need
Education & Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, Banking, Business, or Law.
- Prior approval as an Authorized Individual / Fit & Proper person by a major financial regulator is highly preferred.
Experience:
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in regulatory compliance and/or licensing within financial institutions.
- Experience in compliance/financial crime/risk/regulatory compliance in crypto, fintech, payments, or financial services is acceptable.
Core Competencies:
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong understanding of financial regulations, licensing requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
- Familiarity with international regulatory frameworks governing digital assets and VASP/VARA etc. requirements.
- Proven ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into actionable business operations.
Language:
- Excellent command of English (written and spoken) is required.
- Fluency in Arabic is highly advantageous but not mandatory.