IFSCA regulates a wide range of activities in GIFT City, including fund management (FME), broker-dealer, investment advisory, banking unit, insurance, fintech, payments, ancillary services, and aircraft/ship leasing. The right authorisation depends on your intended activities, client base, and operating model. We map the applicable licence types and prepare the supporting documentation.

Timelines vary by entity type and authorisation category. A straightforward SPV or ancillary setup can be operational within a few weeks, while regulated authorisations such as FMEs, broker-dealers, or insurance entities typically take longer due to regulatory review and documentation requirements. We provide realistic timelines during an initial assessment.

Post-authorisation obligations typically include AML/KYC monitoring, periodic filings with IFSCA and other authorities, governance and board documentation, financial reporting, and internal policy reviews. The specific obligations depend on the entity type and licence category. Our outsourced compliance service covers these obligations as a managed, ongoing workstream.

GIFT City is India's international financial services centre, offering access to the Indian market with cross-border flexibility and specific tax benefits. DIFC and ADGM are UAE-based financial centres with their own regulatory frameworks and different strategic use cases. The right choice depends on your target market, investor base, regulatory appetite, and long-term structure. Our group has worked across all three, so we can offer a genuinely comparative view.

Yes. A large part of our work supports UAE-based firms, GCC family offices, European asset managers, and other international groups entering India through GIFT City. Our international offices in DIFC and ADGM, combined with our GIFT City presence, are specifically structured for cross-border clients.