FCA Expands Global Footprint with New Financial Services Attachés in India and UAE

The Financial Conduct Authority has appointed Sabina Saini and Darine Obeid as Financial Services Attachés for India and the UAE, respectively. For fintech professionals, this expansion signals a significant deepening of regulatory diplomacy in two of the world’s fastest-growing financial hubs, aimed at streamlining international co-operation, cross-border investment, and regulatory alignment.

What was announced

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has formally expanded its global footprint by appointing two dedicated attachés to oversee interests in India and the United Arab Emirates. Sabina Saini has been stationed at the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai, having commenced her role on 10 August 2026. Darine Obeid is set to begin her tenure on 31 August 2026, based at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

These appointments are designed to bolster the UK’s international financial services strategy by supporting exports and driving inward investment. The new attachés join an existing global network that includes representatives in Washington DC, Brussels, Singapore, and the wider Asia-Pacific region. By placing senior regulatory experts directly in Mumbai and Abu Dhabi, the FCA aims to facilitate closer ties with local counterparts and advance UK policy interests in these critical markets.

Sabina Saini brings nearly two decades of experience in financial regulation, audit, and banking. Before this appointment, she served as a manager at the FCA, where she led critical work on the UK’s third-party regime and operational resilience. Her background also includes eight years at the Bank of England. Darine Obeid has spent over ten years at the FCA, with a focus on supervision across retail banking, wholesale banking, and fintech. Her expertise covers high-profile areas including financial crime, AI, and customer outcomes, making her a key asset for the UAE’s evolving fintech landscape.

"The FCA's global network is vital to delivering across all parts of the FCA strategy. Just as the UK is a global financial services centre, the FCA is a globally connected regulator and international leader in financial regulation. Our new presence will help us and our counterparts in India and the Gulf do even more together."

Ruairí O’Connell OBE, director, international at the Financial Conduct Authority.

The companies involved

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the conduct regulator for nearly 50,000 financial services firms and financial markets in the UK. It operates as a globally connected regulator, maintaining a presence in major financial hubs to ensure the UK remains a competitive and well-regulated market for international investment. The FCA works closely with the Bank of England, the UK's central bank, which is responsible for maintaining monetary and financial stability. The Bank of England oversees the supervision of banks and the broader financial system, and many senior regulatory figures, including Sabina Saini, have held roles across both institutions.

The British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai and the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi serve as the primary diplomatic missions for the UK in India and the UAE. These offices facilitate bilateral trade and political relations, now housing specialized financial attachés to bridge the gap between UK regulatory standards and local market requirements. The inclusion of these roles within the diplomatic infrastructure underscores the importance of financial services to the UK’s broader foreign policy and economic objectives.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely monitored the FCA’s efforts to modernize and streamline the UK financial landscape. We recently covered how the FCA Slashes Transaction Reporting Costs by £100m with New Streamlined Regulatory Rules, highlighting the regulator's focus on efficiency. Additionally, our coverage of the Bank of England Appoints Nicholas Segal and Peter King to Lead Enforcement Decision Making Committee reflects the ongoing leadership changes within the UK’s primary financial institutions. We have also tracked broader market shifts, such as when Mastercard and PEXA to Revolutionize UK Homebuying with Synchronised A2A Settlement and the launch of new players like Pebblio Launches to Formalise Britain’s £250+ Hidden Informal Lending Economy.

What this means

This move is a clear signal that the FCA is no longer content with being a reactive domestic regulator; it is positioning itself as a proactive diplomatic force. By embedding specialists like Obeid and Saini in the UAE and India, the FCA is directly challenging the regulatory friction that often hampers fintech expansion into these regions. The UAE is rapidly becoming a global hub for AI and crypto, while India’s digital payment infrastructure is world-leading. Watch for these attachés to push for "regulatory equivalence" or mutual recognition agreements that could make it significantly easier for UK fintechs to export their services while attracting Gulf and Indian capital into London.