Dubai regulator fines former financier $210,000 over false and misleading statements

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has imposed a fine of $210,000 against Gary Joseph Peters for providing false and misleading information to the regulator, as well as for failing to produce required documents. Peters, who worked as the chief operating officer, managing partner, and public relations officer at a DFSA-authorized firm from November 2020 to June 2022, was not authorized by the regulator.

The DFSA also prohibited Peters from holding any position or being an employee of a DFSA-authorized firm or fund, and from engaging in any financial services activities in or from the Dubai International Financial Centre. During a regulator interview, Peters falsely denied prior convictions for fraud and other dishonest conduct, which he had indeed been charged with and pleaded guilty to in another jurisdiction.

The DFSA found Peters to be unfit to perform similar functions and concluded he breached Regulatory Law Articles 66 and 69. DFSA Managing Director Alan Linning emphasized the importance of the regulator obtaining truthful and complete information, stating that providing misleading information or failing to comply with document requests obstructs the regulator's work and will result in action.

The decision was issued on May 21, 2026, with the prohibition and restriction taking effect from that date. Peters challenged the decision in the Financial Markets Tribunal, but it was struck out on October 19. The DFSA expressed gratitude to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market for their cooperation during the investigation.