About SCA
Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) is responsible for regulating the fund and investment industry of the UAE, including investment advisory firms
Since its inception, SCA has been keen on putting the objectives stated in the Federal Law No. (4) of 2000 into effect by sparing no effort to strengthen the legislative structure through issuing such regulations and instructions that ensure the development of the organizational and supervisory framework of promoters of funds, joint-stock companies and other companies operating in the securities field.

TYPES OF LICENSES
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT, ANALYST, PLANNER (“FCAP”)
Notwithstanding the ‘official’ scope of the licence, it was widely accepted as the appropriate licence for the financial advisory business. SCA recognised the need to align the licence closer to its intended purpose and in 2016 added the ‘financial planning’ activity described as follows: Financial Planning: A comprehensive assessment of the current and future financial position of a person through the use of variables known in the present time in order to forecast the future cash flows to help the customer develop a detailed strategy or a financial plan associated with investment in securities, commodities or commodities contracts to achieve the customer’s financial goals. The FCAP licence is now considered the primary licence for financial advisory and financial planning in the onshore UAE market. Licensees are authorised to advise on most savings and investment products with the exceptions of (i) insurance and (ii) banking products.
WEALTH MANAGER
FINANCIAL PROMOTER / INTRODUCER
SHARE BROKER
Notwithstanding the ‘official’ scope of the licence, it was widely accepted as the appropriate licence for the financial advisory business. SCA recognised the need to align the licence closer to its intended purpose and in 2016 added the ‘financial planning’ activity described as follows: Financial Planning: A comprehensive assessment of the current and future financial position of a person through the use of variables known in the present time in order to forecast the future cash flows to help the customer develop a detailed strategy or a financial plan associated with investment in securities, commodities or commodities contracts to achieve the customer’s financial goals. The FCAP licence is now considered the primary licence for financial advisory and financial planning in the onshore UAE market. Licensees are authorised to advise on most savings and investment products with the exceptions of (i) insurance and (ii) banking products.