FCA Strengthens Financial Services Leadership with Darine Obeid Appointment

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has appointed Darine Obeid as Financial Services Attaché for the UAE, as part of an expansion of its global Attaché network.

Obeid will be based at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi and will begin her new role on 31 August.

FCA Expands Global Attaché Network

The appointment is part of a wider expansion of the FCA’s international presence, which also includes the appointment of Sabina Saini as Financial Services Attaché for India. Saini will be based at the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai.

Commenting on the appointments, Ruairi O’Connell OBE, Director of International at the FCA, said the new Attachés will help advance the UK’s interests in financial services policy while supporting investment into the UK’s open market.

“Our new Financial Services Attachés in India and the UAE will advance the UK’s interests on financial services policy and help drive investment into our open market,” O’Connell said.

He added that the FCA’s global network plays an important role in delivering its strategy and strengthening collaboration with international regulatory counterparts.

Focus on Investment and Innovation

In her new role, Darine Obeid will work with counterparts across the Gulf to strengthen engagement in areas including financial services policy, investment and innovation.

Obeid said, “The UAE has firmly established itself as a dynamic and strategically important market, offering significant opportunities in fintech, sustainable finance and financial crime. I’m looking forward to working closely with counterparts across the Gulf to deepen engagement on investment and innovation.”

More Than a Decade of FCA Experience

Obeid brings more than a decade of experience at the FCA, with expertise spanning supervision across retail banking, wholesale banking and fintech.

During her time at the regulator, she has led high-profile engagement across areas including financial crime, operational resilience, artificial intelligence and customer outcomes.

Her appointment comes as the FCA strengthens its international network and seeks to deepen regulatory engagement and cooperation across key global financial markets.