Payments Counsel, MEAPAC & Expansion

Remitly (DIFC) Limited; Dubai; On-site; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

Life insurance

Housing allowance

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Commuter reimbursement

Mental health benefits

Family forming benefits

Learning & development benefits

Job summary

Remitly (DIFC) Limited in Dubai seeks a Dubai-based Legal Counsel to drive licensing and expansion in MEAPAC. You will provide regulatory advice, negotiate agreements, and guide product and service development across multiple jurisdictions.

The role requires deep regulatory knowledge, in-house and law firm experience, and a proactive cross-functional team approach to enable compliant growth in a dynamic, global fintech environment.

Qualifications

• Qualifications to practice law with 7+ years of experience, preferably including in-house and top national or international law firm exposure.
• Experience in financial services, including payments agreements and product development.
• Direct experience with licensing processes and regulator interactions.
• Deep knowledge of Indian payments regulations and MEAPAC regulatory issues.
• Experience with MEAPAC regulatory environments is a plus.
• Experience working with regulators and managing external counsel.
• Ability to lead cross-functional legal projects in a fast-paced, high-growth setup.
• A practical, self-motivated attitude and comfort with complex projects.
• AI fluency and strong English proficiency; additional languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support regulatory feasibility assessments and market entry strategies across MEAPAC.
• Manage licensing and authorization processes with regulators across MEAPAC.
• Advise on regulatory frameworks applicable to financial institutions in MEAPAC.
• Monitor changes in payment laws and advise on product/regulatory adaptations.
• Review and negotiate strategic partnerships with banks, processors, and others in MEAPAC.
• Support government relations and compliance teams on regulatory matters.
• Coordinate with external counsel across jurisdictions as needed.

Skills

Legal experience

Regulatory compliance

Financial services

Negotiation

Licensing processes

Cross-functional leadership

AI fluency

English proficiency

Education

Law degree

Bar admission

Job description

Job Description:

At Remitly, we believe everyone deserves the freedom to access, move, and manage their money wherever life takes them. Since 2011, we’ve tirelessly delivered on our promise to customers sending money globally, providing secure, simple, and reliable ways to manage their money, ensuring true peace of mind. Whether it’s supporting loved ones back home, growing a business across continents, or pursuing new opportunities abroad, we’re not just here to move money— we’re here to move our global customers forward. We’re looking for builders, reimaginers, and global thinkers who want to work at the intersection of technology, trust, and transformation. If that’s you and you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career—we invite you to join over 2,800 passionate Remitlians worldwide who are united by our vision to transform lives with trusted financial services that transcend borders.

About the Role:

Remitly is looking for a Dubai based Legal Counsel to support Remitly's growth across the Middle East and Asia Pacific (MEAPAC). In this role, you will be responsible for driving licensing and expansion initiatives in the region, providing expert legal support on regulatory matters, payment agreement negotiations, product and service development. Working closely with Remitly's business, product, compliance, and finance teams, your role will also involve interpreting and analyzing complex legal and regulatory requirements, identifying areas of risk and opportunity, as well as providing timely and effective advice to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. The successful candidate will be proactive, highly organized, hands on, a great cross-functional team player, and will be able to stay updated on evolving regulatory matters in relevant jurisdictions. This role is based in Dubai and will report to the Legal Director, Middle East and APAC.

You Will:

• Support Remitly's expansion initiatives across MEAPAC, including regulatory feasibility assessments of new markets, legal structuring of new products and market entry strategies in the region.
• Manage and support licensing and authorization processes with financial regulators and others across the MEAPAC region - including India, the Middle East and other key jurisdictions across APAC (applications, filings, and ongoing supervisory engagement).
• Advise on the regulatory framework applicable to financial institutions in jurisdictions in MEAPAC.
• Monitor and stay current with changes in payment-related laws and regulations in MEAPAC and advise on any necessary changes to Remitly's products and services.
• As needed, review and negotiate strategic agreements with partners in MEAPAC (including banks, payment processors, and other regulated entities) as well as providing legal advice and support for global projects.
• Support and advise the government relations and compliance teams on regulatory matters, including interactions and correspondence with relevant authorities.
• Manage and collaborate with external counsel in various jurisdictions as needed.
• Support with any other legal work in the region.

You Have:

• Qualifications to practice law with 7+ years of experience - preferably including both in-house counsel and top national or international law firm experience.
• Experience in financial services, including advice on payments agreements and product development.
• Direct experience with the licensing processes, including hands-on interaction with regulators throughout the application process.
• In-depth knowledge of Indian payments regulations and industry standards as well as experience advising on regulatory issues in relevant jurisdictions.
• Experience with the payments regulatory environment in other MEAPAC jurisdictions is a plus.
• Experience working directly with regulators and managing external counsel.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional legal projects and implement programs of regulatory change in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, across multiple countries and time zones.
• A practical and self-motivated attitude, happy to work on complex projects.
• AI fluency.
• Full professional proficiency in English required, additional languages are a plus.

Our Benefits:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Life Insurance & Income Protection Housing Allowance Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) Commuter Reimbursement Mental Health & Family Forming benefits Learning & development benefits

Our Connected Work Culture:

Driving Innovation, Together At Remitly, we believe that true innovation sparks when we come together. Our Connected Work Culture fosters dynamic in-person collaboration, where ideas ignite and challenging problems find solutions faster.

For corporate team members, we have an in-office expectation of at least 50% of the time monthly, typically achieved by coming in three days a week. This creates a consistent, meaningful overlap that supports team norms and business needs. Managers also have the flexibility to set higher expectations based on their team's specific needs. These intentional in-office moments are vital for deepening relationships, fueling creativity, and ensuring your impact is felt where it matters most.

Remitly is an E-Verify Employer At Remitly, we are dedicated to ensuring that our workplace offers equal employment opportunities to all employees and candidates, in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Remitly is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Remitly is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Remitly is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Remitly is a leading digital financial services provider for immigrants and their families in over 170 countries around the world. Remitly helps immigrants send money home in a safe, reliable and transparent manner. Its digitally-native, cross-border remittance app eliminates the long wait times, complexities and fees typical of traditional remittance processes. Building on its strong foundation, Remitly is expanding its suite of products to further its mission and transform financial services for immigrants all around the world.