1. Introduction

This document describes the different components involved in delivering the integration between the API Hub and a LFI. The goal is to give a clear picture of which components exist, how they are used and what is expected to be delivered by each party.

2. Open Finance Authorisation Flow

As defined in the CBUAE Open Finance Standards, the Authorisation flow is the process that a User undergoes to authorise consent for a TPP to access account(s) held at an LFI.

A simple representation of the authorisation flow is as follows:

1. A User will initiate a consent from a TPP's mobile or web app.
   
   

2. The User will be redirected to the LFI's mobile or web app to authorise the consent.

   1. The LFI need to adapt their mobile and/or web app to receive the redirect and parameters passed over from the TPP

   2. The LFI will use the API Hub Authorisation Server to verify the request and the parameters
      
      

3. The User will go through SCA (Strong Customer Authentication), review the consent, and authorise/reject it.

   1. The LFI needs to adapt their mobile and/or web app to display the consent authorisation screens.

   2. Each consent type will have different information to display to the user

   3. All screens and the required UX guideline will be provided as part of the Open Finance Standards

   4. The LFI will use the Consent Manager and the Authorisation Server to communicate the outcome of the consent authorisation.

   5. The User will be redirected back to the TPP's mobile or web app.

   6. The API Hub will generate the redirect url & access token
      
      

4. The TPP will receive an access token to allow appropriate actions under the conditions of the consent on the User's account(s).

   1. The Ozone Connect API will be responsible for serving data for action service initiation

For a visualisation of this flow please see this figma presentation

3. The API Hub

The API Hub is a fully featured Open API platform, developed and maintained by Ozone, which sits between each LFI’s network and the TPPs. It includes a number of components or modules which work together to take away all the complexity from the LFIs in providing an Open Finance API.

3.1 API Hub Network Diagram

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3.2 Infrastructure

Each LFI will have two environments that will be integrated with the API Hub, Pre-Production and Production.

All two-way traffic between the API Hub and the LFI environments will be secured using MTLS. Certificates will be issued by the OFTF, and Ozone will provide one-on-one guidance throughout this process.

3.3 Role of the API Hub

The API Hub will:

1. Provide a single industry sandbox which simulates a single LFI, with rich synthetic data and a postman collection for each API request/response defined in the Open Finance Standard.

2. Provide each LFI with dedicated Pre-Production and Production API gateways accessible to TPPs.

3. Ensure that the externally facing API adheres strictly to the Open Finance Standard, including the FAPI security profile, data model, and API operations for each endpoint.

4. Integrate with the Open Finance Trust Framework (OFTF) to ensure that ONLY licensed TPPs can access the APIs and that they can ONLY access API sets within the scope of their licensed role(s).

5. Manage the User’s consent, to act as the single source of truth regarding this consent and to ensure that the TPP can only access APIs (for data sharing, service initiation or insurance) within the parameters of this consent.

6. Provide the CBUAE with all required reporting regarding usage, availability and performance.

As a result, LFIs are not required to provide an externally facing API, manage TPP identities or permissions, or handle consent parameters for each API request.

3.4 Sequence Diagrams

The following sequence diagrams explain the interactions between the User, the TPP, the API Hub and the LFI.

Bank Data Sharing

 

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3.5 Key API Hub Components

In order to deliver the end to end journey for the User, the following APIs will be deployed.

• The Authorisation Server and Consent Manager is built, deployed and maintained by Ozone.

• The LFI is expected to build, deploy and maintain screens on their mobile and/or web app to support the Consent Authorisation flow.

• The LFI is expected to build, deploy and maintain the Ozone Connect API for Data Sharing and Service Initiation.

4. LFI Integration Guide

4.1 LFI Responsibilities

In summary, LFIs need to do three things:

1. Provide a connection from their own Pre-Production and Production systems into the API Hub’s Pre-Production and Production environments. These connections will be secured using MTLS.

2. Build an integration into the API Hub based on the Ozone Connect API specification.

3. Adapt their own existing web and mobile apps to

   1. accept a redirection from the User into their web/mobile app

   2. provide consent authorisation screen(s) to enable the User to authorise each relevant API request

   3. provide a consent dashboard to allow Users to view or revoke consents

4.2 LFI and API Hub Integration Lifecycle

1. LFI and Ozone each deploy environment infrastructure for Pre-Production and Production

2. LFI creates certificates using the OFTF - Ozone to provide guidance

3. LFI and Ozone verifies MTLS connectivity in both directions

   1. LFI to the Consent Manager and Authorisation server

   2. Ozone to the LFI Ozone Connect server

4. LFI builds the Consent Authorisation flows by adapting their existing mobile and/or web apps

5. LFI builds the Ozone Connect API integrated with their Core Banking systems

6. Testing, CX certification

7. Go live

4.3 API Hub User Guide

The API Hub Software Development Kit (SDK) will include:

1. API Hub Integration Overview for LFIs

2. API Hub Integration Overview for LFIs | 3.4 Sequence Diagrams

3. API Hub LFI Implementation Plan

4. API Hub Consent Manager API Specification

5. API Hub Authorisation Server API Specification

6. API Hub Ozone Connect API Specification - Data Sharing

7. API Hub Ozone Connect API Specification - Service Initiation

8. API Hub Admin Portal - LFI User Guide

9. API Hub Reporting Datasets

10. Postman collection to simulate TPP journey and LFI / Ozone integration

11. Supporting documentation - FAQs, video tutorials, data mapping

Additionally the Open Finance Standards will define the required UX for Consent Authorisation including

• https://openfinanceuae.atlassian.net/wiki/x/VoncBQ

• Bank Service Initiation

• Insurance

4.4 Support for LFIs

Ozone will engage with LFIs who are onboarding onto the OFP via a series of open engagement sessions. These will be technically focused session and should be attended by the LFI’s technical teams. Dates and timing will be comminuted in due course. Ozone will then conduct bilateral sessions providing one-to-one support and guidance to LFIs through the integration lifecycle.