Payments Counsel, MEAPAC & Expansion

remitly; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Life Insurance

Housing Allowance

ESPP

Commuter Reimbursement

Mental Health Benefits

Learning & Development

Job summary

Remitly is seeking a Dubai-based Legal Counsel to drive licensing and expansion across the MEAPAC region. The role involves advising on regulatory matters, negotiating payment agreements, and ensuring compliance while collaborating with product, compliance, and finance teams.

Based in Dubai, you will report to the Legal Director, Middle East and APAC. You will direct licensing efforts with regulators, monitor evolving payment laws, and help shape product development in a fast-growing environment

Qualifications

• 7+ years of legal experience, in-house and top law firm preferred.
• Experience in financial services, payments agreements, and product development.
• Direct licensing process experience and regulator interactions.
• English proficiency; additional languages a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support MEAPAC expansion by regulatory feasibility assessments and market entry.
• Manage licensing and authorisation processes with regulators across MEAPAC.
• Advise on regulatory frameworks for financial institutions in MEAPAC.
• Monitor payment laws and advise product/regulatory changes.
• Negotiate strategic agreements with partners and oversee global projects.
• Collaborate with government relations and compliance teams on regulatory matters.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Contract negotiations

Financial services

Cross-functional collaboration

English proficiency

AI fluency

Education

Law degree

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.