01
CBUAE - onshore banking
The Central Bank of the UAE is the relevant licensing authority for banks carrying out regulated onshore banking activities. Check the official register for authorised firms.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Regulatory & Licensing Information
Clear information. No unverified licence claims.
GULF HORIZON BANK · CORPORATE INFORMATION
Regulatory & Licensing Information
GHB’s regulatory strategy covers an onshore UAE banking structure, an offshore financial-centre structure and digital-asset services. Such activities require precise permissions from the relevant regulator. No licence number or authorisation has been supplied or verified for GHB, so no approval is asserted on this website.
Gulf Horizon Bank · Corporate information
No regulator has been represented as having authorised GHB. The referenced onshore/offshore model is aspirational and subject to legal review.
THE GHB PERSPECTIVE
Understanding the regulatory landscape
Different activities may fall under different frameworks.
02
DFSA or FSRA - financial free zones
DIFC and ADGM use separate financial-services regulatory regimes. Any future entity, authorisation category and permitted activity must be stated precisely, rather than treating both regimes as interchangeable.
03
VARA - virtual assets
Virtual-asset activities in Dubai may require VARA authorisation, depending on activity and jurisdiction. A public register is available for checking licensed firms.
THE GHB PERSPECTIVE
Customer-protection disclosures
Never assume protection without verified terms.
01
Deposit protection
No current statutory deposit guarantee is represented for GHB. Any future protections must be checked against applicable law and the actual institution and account type.
02
Digital assets
Testnet tokens have no real monetary value. Real digital assets would carry market, custody, network and regulatory risks, and are not represented as deposits.
03
Regulatory records
Licence identifiers and approved permissions will be published alongside official regulator-register links once available and independently verified.
A wider horizon starts here.
Discover connected financial services spanning everyday banking, international solutions and digital assets.
EXPLORE GHB BANKING SOLUTIONS Explore GHB banking services, account tiers, features, rates and fees. See Regulatory & Licensing Information for intended authorisations and deposit-protection disclosures. Browse the full service directory →
Dual-perimeter structure · Complete specification
REGULATORY & LICENSING DISCLOSURES
Dual-perimeter structure
Gulf Horizon Bank plans to operate through two regulated banking perimeters. Onshore, GHB will seek to obtain a banking licence issued by the Central Bank of the UAE under Federal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025. Offshore, GHB will seek to obtain a financial-services licence from the DFSA (DIFC) or FSRA (ADGM) as a Category 1 deposit-taking institution, through which it serves international clients with offshore accounts, deposits, lending, and custody. GHB also intends to obtain a VARA Virtual Asset Service Provider licence for virtual-asset activities in Dubai.
CBUAE Banking Licence (onshore)
GHB's target onshore licence would cover banking and payment services for UAE residents and UAE-incorporated businesses, including payment services utilising virtual assets within the CBUAE's licensing perimeter. Licence number and status are verifiable on the CBUAE public register.
DFSA or FSRA Offshore Banking Licence (offshore)
GHB's intended offshore banking entity will seek authorisation as a Category 1 firm - the category that permits accepting deposits - by the DFSA (if DIFC) or the FSRA (if ADGM). DIFC Category 1 banking carries a minimum base capital requirement of USD 10 million. The offshore entity is separately governed, with its own board, senior managers, and DFSA/FSRA conduct-of-business obligations. Its licence number and status are verifiable on the DFSA or FSRA public register.
VARA Virtual Asset Service Provider Licence
GHB intends to obtain a VASP licence, subject to authorisation from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority for activities conducted in Dubai outside the DIFC. Licensed categories include transfer services, custody services, and borrowing services. Licence number and status are verifiable on the VARA public register.
Deposit protection - critical distinction
The target onshore protection structure contemplates eligible fiat deposits having deposit protection up to AED 500,000 per depositor per bank, if an applicable verified scheme covers those deposits. Offshore deposits held with GHB's DIFC or ADGM entity would not be assumed covered by the UAE Deposit Insurance Scheme unless the offshore perimeter has separately opted into an eligible scheme; offshore clients should confirm the applicable protection regime with their relationship manager before depositing. Crypto assets would not be covered by any government deposit-insurance scheme at either perimeter; GHB will maintain private insurance for client digital assets covering a minimum of 10% of average client assets.
Tax reporting
GHB's proposed onshore and offshore entities would operate as reporting financial institutions under the UAE's Common Reporting Standard and FATCA regimes. Account information may be reported to the tax authority of the client's jurisdiction of tax residence. GHB does not provide tax advice; offshore clients should consult a qualified adviser in their home jurisdiction.
Risk disclosure
Virtual assets are volatile and may not be suitable for all investors. Offshore banking involves jurisdictional, legal, and tax considerations that differ from onshore banking. GHB will provide regulated custody and execution services but does not provide investment or tax advice unless separately licensed to do so.