PCI DSS QSA · UAE (CEMEA)
PCI DSS QSA Services in the UAE
QSA-authorised PCI DSS v4.0.1 assessment and readiness for banks, payment service providers, fintechs, and merchants across the UAE — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the wider Emirates.
PCI DSS for the UAE payments ecosystem
The UAE has one of the most advanced digital-payment markets in the Middle East — from card acquiring and payment gateways to stored-value wallets and the Aani instant-payment platform. Banks, payment service providers (PSPs), fintechs, and merchants that store, process, or transmit cardholder data fall within the scope of PCI DSS v4.0.1. CyberSigma is authorised to perform PCI QSA work across the CEMEA region (which includes the UAE), and works with security, GRC, and engineering teams in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and across the Emirates to validate scope, remediate gaps, and complete formal assessments.
How the UAE regulatory context shapes PCI scope
PCI DSS is a global card-scheme standard, but in the UAE it sits alongside local regulation that often makes payment-data security a board-level priority. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes (RPSCS) Regulation and Stored Value Facilities (SVF) framework set expectations for PSPs and wallet operators, while the UAE Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) — and the separate data-protection regimes in the DIFC and ADGM financial free zones — govern how personal and cardholder data is handled and where it can reside. We map PCI DSS controls against these obligations so a single programme satisfies both the card schemes and UAE regulators.
How we support PCI readiness in the UAE
- QSA-led gap analysis against all PCI DSS v4.0.1 requirements with a prioritised remediation roadmap.
- SAQ versus Report on Compliance (ROC) pathway guidance based on your merchant or PSP level.
- Cardholder data environment (CDE) scoping and network segmentation to reduce in-scope systems.
- Mapping PCI controls to CBUAE RPSCS/SVF expectations and UAE PDPL / DIFC / ADGM data rules.
- ASV scanning coordination and penetration-test scoping, with retesting to confirm remediation.
- Evidence packs, control narratives, and the formal QSA assessment so your team is audit-ready.
Our approach
We begin by validating exactly where cardholder data lives and how it flows, because accurate scoping is the single biggest lever for cutting both compliance effort and risk. We then identify which controls already meet PCI DSS v4.0.1, which need remediation, and which systems can be taken out of scope through segmentation or tokenisation. We coordinate ASV scans and penetration testing, track remediation to closure, and — because we are QSA-authorised for CEMEA — carry out the formal assessment itself, so UAE organisations work with one partner from readiness through to a signed Attestation of Compliance.
Best fit
This page is for UAE-based banks, PSPs, payment gateways, fintechs, and merchants that handle card data and need QSA-authorised PCI DSS v4.0.1 assessment and readiness — covering scope validation, remediation, local regulatory alignment, and a formal Report on Compliance or SAQ.
Related services
PCI DSS compliance
End-to-end PCI DSS v4.0.1 readiness, remediation, and evidence preparation.
Our accreditations
CERT-In empanelment and PCI QSA (CEMEA) authorisation — verifiable credentials.
Cybersecurity compliance UAE
Broader security and compliance support for UAE organisations.
PCI DSS vs ISO 27001
Understand how the two frameworks differ and where controls overlap.
Frequently asked questions
Is CyberSigma authorised to perform PCI QSA assessments in the UAE?
Yes. CyberSigma is authorised to perform PCI QSA work across the CEMEA region, which includes the UAE. That means we can take a UAE organisation from gap assessment and remediation through to the formal assessment and Attestation of Compliance, rather than only providing advisory support.
How does PCI DSS interact with Central Bank of the UAE requirements?
PCI DSS is a card-scheme standard, while the CBUAE RPSCS and SVF regulations set licensing and operational expectations for payment service providers and stored-value operators in the UAE. They overlap heavily on data security, so we map PCI DSS controls to your CBUAE obligations and to the UAE PDPL (and DIFC/ADGM data laws where relevant) so one programme covers all of them.
Where does cardholder data need to reside for UAE organisations?
Data-residency expectations depend on whether you operate onshore or within a financial free zone (DIFC or ADGM), your licence type, and the data involved. We factor residency and the relevant UAE data-protection regime into CDE scoping and architecture decisions so your PCI programme and your local data obligations stay aligned.
