The International Compliance Association said its office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) will offer exclusive certificated programmes in Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Crime Prevention.

The ICA is the only global provider of academically recognised training in such regulatory-related programmes in association with University of Manchester Business School.

The step is also part of the ICA's efforts to extend its geographical reach to the world's leading financial centres. The new DIFC office is also indicative of the Association's support of the UAE government's initiatives in the area of compliance, and its commitment to working closely with monetary, law enforcement and regulatory authorities worldwide.

Nasser Al Shaali, CEO of DIFC Authority said: "As part of the Dubai International Financial Centre's (DIFC) commitment to promoting a culture of compliance and integrity in our region, we are keen to encourage global providers of compliance expertise, like ICA, to establish themselves in Dubai.

"As the Middle East's capital markets enter a new phase of growth, a sound compliance framework is essential for regional companies to ensure long-term business sustainability. ICA can provide a wealth of knowledge, guidance and information that can help to enhance ethical business practices in the region."

Bill Howarth, chief executive officer, ICA, said that GCC governments are moving towards stricter compliance regulations as the region plays an increasingly active role in the global financial system.

"The UAE's commitment to develop financial compliance procedures reflects its concerted efforts in this direction. This coupled with the robust growth in finance and banking has led to a surge in demand for compliance training in the country. As the only global provider of high-quality academically-recognised courses in compliance, the ICA is well positioned to meet this demand. We are proud to introduce our specialised courses in the region.

"The ICA nurtures strong international relationships and this benefits individual students, the organizations they work for and the industry as a whole. We believe that good compliance equals good business," he said.

Internationally, the ICA works with the UNDP, Europol, Serious Organised Crime Agency (UK), Financial Services Authority (UK) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

ICA’s certificate and diploma programmes are considered a mark of achievement by financial professionals across the world.

The suite of programmes for both beginners and experienced practitioners alike are academically rigorous but practically focused and are awarded in association with the University of Manchester Business School.

ICA awards seven internationally accredited Certificates and Diplomas in Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering through its arm – International Compliance Training (ICT).

Headquartered in the UK with regional offices in Singapore and now the Middle East, the ICA has a presence in more than 30 jurisdictions. - TradeArabia News Service