DFSA Innovation Testing Licence (ITL)
The DFSA Innovation Testing Licence lets a firm live-test an innovative financial product with real customers in DIFC under a restricted licence, usually about 12 months. You enquire through DFSA’s innovation channel; this is not a Typeform cohort. Fees published on the DFSA side run from a few thousand to six figures depending on the activity. Evergreen. You need a testing plan, compliance adult in the room, and a reason DIFC — not “we want a Dubai office.” If you are not touching regulated financial activity, you want the Innovation Licence, not the ITL.
DESK TAKE
The serious twin of ADGM RegLab. Budget for lawyers. If the fee range scares you, you are not ready, or you are not actually a regulated product.
ELIGIBILITY
The DFSA's licensed sandbox for testing innovative financial services in or from the DIFC. - Must involve innovation: a new product/service or innovative technology applied to an existing one - The activity must be a Financial Service if carried on in or from the DIFC - Applicant must be ready to start live-testing with actual customers - Must intend to scale the business in or from the DIFC - Two-stage process: ITL Pre-application Form first; eligible firms are then invited to submit the full ITL Application with a Regulatory Test Plan, risk/AML policies and KYC on senior management
QUESTIONS
Is this the same as the DIFC Innovation Licence?
No. The Innovation Licence is a cheap commercial licence for tech. The ITL is a restricted financial-services test licence.
Can I apply without a DIFC entity?
The test lives in DIFC. Expect to stand up the entity as part of the process.