Membership of the CISI, the professional body for UK-based Certified Financial Planners, has risen by 18% in the UAE as more local professionals seek internationally-recognised qualifications.

The number of CISI members in the United Arab Emirates has risen by nearly a fifth in the 2018/19 to more than 560, the CISI reported.

The London-based professional body said that more than 2,443 CISI qualifications were earned by financial services professionals in the country in the past 12 months.

These include certificates in Islamic Finance, Fundamentals of Financial Services, International Introduction to Securities & Investment, International Certificate in Wealth & Investment Management, UAE Financial Rules & Regulations, Risk in Financial Services and Global Securities, among others.

The CISI says it has seen a significant increase in members at leading financial organisations.

The CISI has expanded its collaborative efforts in the region to include the Jordan Securities Commission (JSC) and Kuwait’s Capital Market Authorities (CMA).

Matthew Cowan, Chartered MCSI, regional director Middle East at the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment said: “Across the region, we are seeing not only a change in attitude, but an increased demand for qualifications.

“Workers in the financial services space are keen to position themselves as the best in their field and the profession continues to demand the highest standards of knowledge, skills and behaviour.”