What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project by raising money from a large number of people through licensed online platforms. Typically, crowdfunding consists of three parties:

• the person raising funds
• the party providing the crowdfunding  platform
• the public providing funding through the platform.

Common types of crowdfunding include:

• Donations model where funders donate a sum for a cause and do not expect any returns
• Rewards model where funds are asked for in exchange for a future reward
• Crowd-sourced equity funding (CSEF) where the investors receive shares in a company in exchange for the fund they provided
• Debt or peer-to-peer lending model where the lenders provide loans to borrowers and expect it to be paid back with interest at an agreed rate, or a rate fixed by the crowdsourcing platform.

Examples of crowdfunding platforms in the UAE are:

• DubaiNEXT
• Beehive
• Eureeca.

Useful links:

• Dubai Financial Services Authority launches Crowdfunding Framework.

Crowdfunding in the UAE

In the UAE, fundraising activities for charities and social causes are regulated and done through state-based registered channels. However, fundraising for loans and investments, or debt-based funding is a new concept which is currently applied on a narrow basis and yet to be regulated and introduced at a wider level. In the UAE, the following entities regulate financial services or activities:

• Central Bank of the UAE
• The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
• In Abu Dhabi, Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
• In Dubai, Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC)

Regulations on crowdfunding

• Cabinet Resolution No. (36) of 2022 Concerning Regulating Activity of the Crowdfunding Platform Operator- Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
• Loan-based Crowdfunding Activities Regulation- CBUAE
• Crowdfunding - CBUAE.

Crowdfunding in Dubai (DIFC)

Recently, Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) launched a regulatory framework for loan and investment-based crowdfunding platforms, which is considered the first framework in GCC. The introduction of the regulation intends to license, organise and protect the rights and obligations of all parties involved in specific crowdfunding activities which provide finance solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE.

The regime forms part of DFSA’s regulatory roadmap to create an innovation-friendly ecosystem, in line with the UAE Government’s National Innovation Strategy. DFSA crowdfunding regulations intend to accelerate growth in the financial technology (FinTech) industry in the UAE and the region by targeting the specific requirements of crowdfunding platforms. The regulations ensure clear governance for FinTech businesses and provide appropriate protection for their customers. They also formalise DFSA’s approach to regulating crowdfunding platforms which had operated through interim arrangements since 2016.

DubaiNEXT

DubaiNEXT is a digital crowdfunding platform from Dubai Government. It was launched to facilitate Dubai-based individuals and companies who have creative projects to start a campaign through the platform and ask the UAE’s community to fund their business idea and turn it into a venture.

DubaiNEXT is based on the ‘All-or-Nothing’ model, where a campaigner sets a fundraising goal, but keeps nothing unless the goal is achieved. After the campaigner meets his funding goal, the amount will be released to him through Dubai SME. If the campaign does not reach the funded goal, the contributed amount will be refunded to the contributors.

The campaigner will get to keep full ownership of his project. Contributors can choose from a variety of unique rewards offered by the campaign owner.

The ‘Dubai Next’ platform aims to encourage youth and start-ups to obtain community support through crowdfunding. It envisions to empower a generation that is capable of innovating to succeed in a competitive commercial environment, thus reinforcing the fundamental role of SMEs in economic development.

Read FAQs relating to starting a campaign and contributing to a project.