ACA is proud to congratulate Clare Curtis, Head of ACA Effecta, on being named one of Inc. Arabia’s Women of Influence 2026. From more than 300 entries, Inc. Arabia selected 60 women shaping business across Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Clare is one of them.
The recognition highlights Clare’s leadership in the UAE and ACA Effecta’s regional regulatory expertise, backed by ACA’s global governance, risk, and compliance capabilities.
"Everyone has something valuable to contribute, and the greatest leaders are those who help others recognize just how remarkable they really are."
Clare founded Effecta Compliance in 2020, which ACA Group later acquired in 2024. Clare has continued to lead the growth of ACA Effecta, guiding clients through complex, new, and evolving requirements across the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and the wider UAE. ACA Effecta combines deep local DFSA and FSRA expertise with ACA’s global capabilities.
ACA Effecta combines local regulatory expertise with ACA’s global governance, risk, and compliance capabilities to support firms with market entry, regulatory authorization, outsourced compliance, regulatory advisory, AI governance, financial crime, cybersecurity, operational resilience, and managed compliance solutions.
"“Clare’s recognition is richly deserved. Her leadership, insight, and commitment to clients have helped establish ACA Effecta as one of the UAE’s most respected regulatory advisory practices. It is also a timely reminder of the impact women leaders continue to make across our industry and the region. Together, ACA Effecta’s local expertise and ACA’s global capabilities position us to help firms launch, grow, and protect their businesses at every stage of their journey.”"
This recognition comes as the UAE continues to reinforce its position as a leading destination for international financial services. Dubai recently entered the top 10 in the Global Financial Centres Index. Combined with the AED 100 billion Zabeel District expansion, AI-focused initiatives, and a pragmatic regulatory approach, those developments continue to attract international firms and increased demand for trusted regulatory, governance, and compliance expertise.
Clare’s recognition builds on her longstanding commitment to advancing the advisory profession and supporting firms navigating an evolving regulatory environment. Earlier this year, ACA featured her in its Women in Advisory Spotlight series, highlighting her career, leadership philosophy, and commitment to developing future leaders.
Contact our team to discuss how ACA Effecta can support your firm in the UAE.