Dubai, UAE · Compliance & Corporate Advisory

Compliance. Governance. Risk Management. Done Properly.

Fractional Chief Compliance Officer & corporate advisory services for businesses in Dubai and across the UAE.

Fractional CCO Services AML & Regulatory Compliance Programs Corporate Governance & Risk Advisory Business Setup & Compliance
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BLACKTHORNE & CHASE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY Inspection Ready
Baqa Rashdi, Founder & Managing Director
Baqa Rashdi — Founder & Managing Director
Canadian-Qualified Lawyer (Ontario Bar, 2010) · Dubai-Based
Licensed Management Consultancy Trade Licence 1515977 UAE Mainland & Free Zones
AED 1M
Max AML fine per violation — 2025 UAE Law
AED 42M
DNFBP fines issued in H1 2025 alone
15+
Years of senior advisory & compliance experience

Who We Are

Built for businesses that cannot afford compliance failure

Blackthorne & Chase is a Dubai-based management consultancy focused on corporate compliance, governance systems, and regulatory risk management. Our approach is direct: prevent problems before regulators or audits find them.

We act as your external compliance and governance function — providing senior-level advisory expertise without the overhead of a full-time executive hire. Whether you are scaling, entering a regulated industry, or tightening internal controls, we build systems that hold up under scrutiny.

Compliance is not paperwork. It is protection. Most businesses only fix compliance issues when something goes wrong. We help you avoid that entirely.
  • High-growth SMEs in Dubai and across the UAE
  • Financial services and FinTech companies
  • Real estate brokers, developers, and related firms
  • Cross-border businesses entering the UAE market
  • Companies entering regulated industries
  • Founders who want done-for-you compliance oversight

What We Do

Compliance & corporate advisory services in the UAE

We act as your external compliance and governance function — senior expertise across regulatory advisory and corporate strategy, on a fixed-fee or retainer basis.

◈

Fractional Chief Compliance Officer

A senior compliance function without hiring a full-time executive. We design, implement, and manage your compliance framework on a monthly retainer.

◎

Corporate Governance Advisory

Build internal systems that support accountability and regulatory alignment. Shareholder agreements, board governance, and governance manuals aligned with UAE regulatory expectations.

Business advisory — final legal review via licensed counsel recommended.
◆

AML / CFT Compliance Programs

Anti-money laundering frameworks tailored to UAE regulatory expectations. goAML registration, Institutional Risk Assessments, KYC/CDD procedures, and staff training.

◇

Regulatory Risk Assessments

Identify regulatory exposure before it becomes enforcement action. Gap analysis, internal control design, and remediation plans for mainland and free zone businesses.

▣

Business Structuring & Compliance Setup

Ensure your company structure aligns with UAE operational requirements from day one. Jurisdiction selection, structure advisory, and compliance infrastructure.

Commercial document templates — not legal advice.
◐

UAE Market Entry Advisory

End-to-end advisory for international companies entering the UAE. Mainland vs. free zone vs. DIFC/ADGM analysis, regulatory obligations, and governance frameworks.

AML Compliance Dubai

Compliant. Protected. Inspection-ready.

Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 replaced the UAE AML framework in October 2025. If your business is a real estate broker, accountant, corporate service provider, or FinTech — an AML program is a legal requirement, not a recommendation.

AED 42M
DNFBP fines issued in H1 2025 alone
AED 1M
Maximum fine per violation under 2025 AML Law
1–2 wks
Delivery time for AML Essentials program
Fixed
Fee pricing — no hourly billing surprises
Get Compliant — Book a Call WhatsApp AML Query

AML Essentials

goAML registration, Institutional Risk Assessment, AML Policy Manual, CDD/EDD procedures, staff training. Inspection-ready foundation.

AED 7,500
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Most Popular

AML Complete

Full scope implementation: gap analysis, risk matrix, inspection readiness report, two training sessions, and 60-day post-delivery support.

AED 14,500
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Fractional CCO Retainer

Ongoing compliance leadership — monthly monitoring, regulatory updates, goAML reporting support, and program maintenance year-round.

From AED 4,500/mo
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How We Work

A clear process. No ambiguity.

01

Diagnostic Call

A confidential 30-minute call to assess your current compliance position, regulatory obligations, and risk exposure. No charge, no obligation.

02

Gap Analysis

We identify weaknesses in your governance, AML program, and regulatory structure — mapped against your specific industry obligations.

03

Implementation Plan

We design and build a compliance framework tailored to your business — fixed-fee, delivered on time, and built for regulatory inspection.

04

Ongoing Oversight

Optional Fractional CCO retainer to maintain your compliance program continuously — monitoring changes and managing reporting obligations.

Why Companies Choose Us

What makes Blackthorne & Chase different

Senior-Level Expertise Only

You work directly with a senior advisor from day one. No junior consultants, no associates handling your file.

Practical Systems, Not Reports

We build compliance programs designed for real business operations — not templates that fail under inspection.

Built for UAE Regulatory Reality

Deep knowledge of the UAE's AML framework, DNFBP obligations, and Ministry of Economy enforcement patterns.

Fixed-Fee Clarity

No hourly billing, no surprise invoices. Every engagement starts with a clear scope and a fixed price.

Cross-Border Experience

15+ years spanning Canadian and UAE regulatory environments — valuable for international companies entering the UAE market.

Long-Term Advisory Model

We operate as a trusted ongoing advisor, not a transactional vendor. Clients retain us because we treat their risk as seriously as they do.

Monthly Advisory Retainers

Choose your level of support

Month-to-month retainers with a 3-month minimum. All plans include a complimentary 30-minute onboarding consultation.

Starter

Advisory Starter

AED 3,500
per month
  • 3 advisory hours per month
  • Contract & document template review — up to 2/monthBusiness terms, not legal advice
  • Regulatory queries (48hr response)
  • Monthly 30-min advisory call
  • Document template library
  • 10% discount on project work
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Most Popular
Professional

Advisory Professional

AED 7,500
per month
  • 8 advisory hours per month
  • Commercial contract & template support — up to 4Business terms; legal review via licensed counsel recommended
  • AML & compliance monitoring
  • Governance & board advisory
  • Priority 24-hour response
  • Monthly 60-min strategy call
  • 15% discount on project work
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Executive

Advisory Executive

AED 15,000
per month
  • Unlimited advisory access
  • End-to-end commercial documentation support
  • Complete AML program maintenance
  • Board & shareholder advisory
  • Regulatory liaison & submission preparationLegal representation referred to licensed UAE counsel
  • Same-day response on urgent matters
  • Monthly executive advisory report
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About the Founder

Experienced leadership in compliance & corporate advisory

Baqa Rashdi, Founder & Managing Director, Blackthorne & Chase

Baqa Rashdi is the Founder and Managing Director of Blackthorne & Chase, a Dubai-based management consultancy specializing in corporate compliance, governance systems, and regulatory risk management for UAE businesses.

Canadian-Qualified Lawyer · Ontario Bar 2010 15+ Yrs Advisory Experience Dubai Based

Baqa is a Canadian-qualified lawyer, called to the Ontario Bar in 2010, with over 15 years of professional experience spanning corporate advisory, regulatory matters, and cross-border business structuring.

Baqa is not licensed to practice law in the UAE and is not registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice as a legal consultant. Blackthorne & Chase operates exclusively under its UAE management consultancy license and does not provide legal advice on UAE law or legal representation before UAE courts or regulators.

His Canadian legal training informs how he structures compliance programs and governance frameworks — but every engagement is delivered as business and regulatory advisory, not legal counsel. Where a client matter requires a legal opinion or representation under UAE law, Blackthorne & Chase refers clients to MoJ-registered legal consultants or DIFC/ADGM-licensed practitioners as appropriate.

Canadian-Qualified Lawyer

Called to the Law Society of Ontario, 2010. Credential held in Canada; not a UAE legal license.

15+ Years Advisory Practice

Corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, and governance design across Canadian and UAE business environments.

UAE Regulatory Expertise

Operational knowledge of UAE AML law, DNFBP obligations, and Ministry of Economy enforcement patterns.

Cross-Border Advisory

Experience helping businesses operate across Canadian and UAE regulatory environments, alongside licensed UAE legal counsel where needed.

Don't wait for a compliance problem to become an enforcement problem.

Regulatory enforcement in the UAE is becoming more structured, more active, and less forgiving. If your business is growing, your compliance systems must grow with it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about compliance in the UAE

What is a Fractional CCO and does my Dubai business need one?

A Fractional Chief Compliance Officer is an outsourced compliance function that manages your compliance program on a retainer basis. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, having a dedicated compliance function is no longer optional for many regulated businesses. A Fractional CCO gives you senior-level compliance oversight at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire — typically AED 300,000–500,000 per year in-house. Our service starts at AED 4,500 per month.

Which businesses in Dubai are required to have an AML compliance program?

Under UAE AML law, all Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) are required to have a functioning AML compliance program. This includes real estate brokers and agents, accountants, auditors, corporate service providers, precious metals and gemstones dealers, and virtual asset service providers. There is no size exemption. The Ministry of Economy imposed over AED 130 million in fines on non-compliant DNFBPs since 2022, with AED 42 million in H1 2025 alone.

How much does an AML compliance program cost for a Dubai SME?

Blackthorne & Chase offers fixed-fee AML compliance programs starting at AED 7,500 for AML Essentials, which includes goAML registration, an Institutional Risk Assessment, an AML Policy Manual, CDD/EDD procedures, and staff training. AML Complete is AED 14,500 for full-scope implementation including gap analysis, risk matrix, and inspection readiness preparation. All prices are fixed — no hourly billing.

How quickly can you set up an AML compliance program?

AML Essentials is delivered in 1–2 weeks. AML Complete, which includes a comprehensive gap analysis and inspection readiness report, takes 2–3 weeks from engagement. Both are fixed-fee with clear delivery timelines agreed upfront.

Does Blackthorne & Chase help with business setup and compliance in the UAE?

Yes. We advise businesses on their compliance requirements from the point of incorporation — including jurisdiction selection (mainland, DIFC, ADGM, or free zone), structure advisory, AML obligations upon licensing, and governance framework design. This is business and regulatory advisory; where a legal opinion is required, we work alongside your licensed UAE legal counsel.

Can a template AML policy I found online pass a UAE regulatory inspection?

Unlikely. UAE regulators review AML programs in detail during inspections. A generic template that doesn't reflect your specific business type, risk profile, customer base, and regulatory category will typically fail inspection. Every AML program we build is customized to your specific business and structured to address the inspection criteria applied by the Ministry of Economy and relevant UAE supervisory authorities.