Rahul Samdani

Rahul Samdani is a Director with BDO's Advisory Services practice and heads the Forensics, Financial Crime and Compliance practice in the UAE. With over 14 years of experience, Rahul advises financial institutions, corporates, government and semi-government entities, and regulators on complex matters involving financial crime, fraud risk management, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, investigations and disputes.

He has led high-profile and sensitive engagements involving whistleblower allegations, financial reporting irregularities, corruption, regulatory breaches, shareholder disputes, misconduct by senior executives and large-scale fraud investigations at both organisational and country-wide levels.

Rahul specialises in advising banks, exchange houses, fintechs, payment service providers, and other regulated entities on governance, AML/CFT compliance, consumer protection, and compliance remediation matters. He currently serves as a Skilled Person Examiner for several licensed financial institutions in the UAE, providing independent assessments and supporting regulatory-driven reviews.

Rahul also serves as an Expert Witness, supporting legal proceedings through independent analysis and testimony, and has appeared before courts and judicial authorities on complex forensic and investigative matters. Having worked across the Middle East and Asia, Rahul brings extensive experience across financial services, retail and consumer products, technology, manufacturing, real estate, construction, hospitality, logistics, and healthcare.

Known for his practical and solution-oriented approach, Rahul works closely with Boards, Senior Management, Regulators, and Legal counsel to help organisations identify vulnerabilities, strengthen governance and control frameworks, mitigate financial crime and operational risks, and navigate complex regulatory and investigative challenges.

Professional Qualifications & Affiliations

• Chartered Accountant (CA) – The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) – Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
• Certified Forensic Audit and Fraud Detection (FAFD), ICAI
• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.)