IT support for DIFC and ADGM firms.

Two free zones, two rulebooks

The Dubai International Financial Centre and Abu Dhabi Global Market look alike from the outside: common-law jurisdictions, regulated financial and professional-services firms, strict rules about data. In practice they differ in ways that affect your IT.

DIFC (Dubai) has its own data-protection requirements. Your IT planning should address where personal data is stored and processed, how incidents are handled, and who in the firm is accountable.

ADGM (Abu Dhabi) has a separate data-protection framework. Financial-services firms also need to account for the cybersecurity requirements that apply to their regulated activities, including governance, controls, testing and incident reporting.

Plan for appropriate controls from day one, with the requirements for your firm's licence and activities confirmed as part of that planning. This page provides general IT guidance, not legal advice; your compliance officer or counsel has the final word.

What we do for firms in both

Office setup that passes. Network, cabling, access control and CCTV specified for the free-zone office before the walls close, with the permissions and approvals handled. IT permissions for a DIFC or ADGM office and the IT requirements guide.

Compliant platforms. Email, file storage and collaboration chosen for data residency and regulator expectations, usually Microsoft 365 configured correctly rather than another product. Which email platforms are compliant.

A security baseline you can evidence. Multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection, backup with tested recovery, access reviews and the records to prove them. The minimum level of cybersecurity in DIFC and ADGM.

Managed support that fits your hours. Business hours, extended cover or 24/7/365, built around how the firm operates, with the service period and notice or exit conditions set out in each agreement. How support works.

Vendor-neutral advice. When the regulator, the landlord or a parent company asks for something, we tell you what it actually requires and what it does not. Technology consultancy.

Start with the checklist

Our DIFC and ADGM IT compliance checklist covers data protection, cybersecurity and licensing in one place. It is the document we work through with every new firm.

Awards

• Best IT Solutions Provider 2018
• Best SME IT Solutions Provider 2019
• Best SME IT Consultancy 2020
• Best Outsourced Managed IT Support Provider 2021
• Best SME-Focused IT Support Provider GCC 2022
• Best SME-Focused IT Support Provider - GCC 2023
• Best IT Services Consultancy 2024