Chief Compliance Officer / MRLO

We are working with a well-funded Dubai-based Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization platform building regulated infrastructure at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets. The company is currently progressing through its licensing journey with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and is looking to appoint a senior compliance leader to take ownership of regulatory engagement and the build-out of its compliance framework.This is a rare opportunity to join a high growth project at licensing stage, with direct influence over regulatory strategy, governance structure, and market entry in the UAE.Role OverviewThe Chief Compliance Officer / MLRO will lead the company’s regulatory and financial crime compliance function and act as the primary point of contact with VARA during the licensing process and beyond.This individual will play a critical role in securing regulatory approval and ensuring the organisation operates to the highest standards of compliance within the UAE virtual asset framework.Key ResponsibilitiesVARA Licensing & Regulatory EngagementLead the company’s ongoing VARA licensing applicationAct as primary liaison with VARA regulatorsOwn regulatory submissions, responses, and policy alignmentSupport governance structuring aligned with UAE regulatory expectationsMaintain oversight of licensing milestones and approvalsCompliance Framework DevelopmentDesign and implement the company’s compliance programmeEstablish policies aligned with UAE virtual asset regulationsBuild internal compliance controls and monitoring frameworksEnsure readiness for regulatory audits and inspectionsServe as the appointed Money Laundering Reporting OfficerDevelop and maintain AML/CFT frameworksOversee transaction monitoring and reporting obligationsManage Suspicious Activity Reporting where requiredEnsure alignment with UAE AML regulations and FATF standardsGovernance & RiskAdvise executive leadership on regulatory strategySupport board-level compliance reportingBuild compliance culture across the organisationIdentify and mitigate regulatory and financial crime risksPrior experience working directly with VARA regulatory frameworksExperience supporting or leading a virtual asset licence application in the UAEPrevious appointment as CCO, MLRO, or Compliance Lead within a regulated environmentStrong knowledge of AML/CFT requirements for digital asset businessesExperience engaging with regulators during licensing or supervisory processesAbility to join immediately or on short noticePreferredExperience within crypto, Web3, digital assets, or tokenization platformsExposure to RWA tokenization structuresBackground working with exchanges, custodians, brokers, or virtual asset service providersExperience building compliance functions from early stageWhy This OpportunityJoin a well-funded RWA tokenization platformPlay a leadership role in securing VARA approvalShape compliance strategy from the ground upWork closely with executive leadership and regulatorsReceive equity participation alongside base compensationOpportunity to influence a next‑generation regulated Web3 infrastructure business in Dubai#J-18808-Ljbffr