The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) is the independent regulatory authority of financial services conducted in or from the [[Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)]], established in 2004. It acts as both the financial services regulator and market supervisor of DIFC companies. Key features include: - Independent regulator with own governance and funding system - Regulates all financial and ancillary services conducted in DIFC - Issues licenses for financial institutions operating in DIFC - Supervises and enforces anti-money laundering regulations - Oversees [[Nasdaq Dubai (formerly DIFX)]] operations - Creates and enforces regulatory framework based on international standards - Cooperates with other international regulatory bodies - Provides regulations for various financial activities including banking, insurance, asset management, and advisory services - Enforces compliance with international financial standards and best practices - Has power to investigate and enforce regulations through fines and other penalties The DFSA follows international best practices and maintains relationships with global regulatory bodies to ensure DIFC's alignment with global financial standards. Related terms: [[United Arab Emirates (UAE)]]