What is money laundering?
According to the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organisations Committee, money laundering refers to the following acts:
- Any person with knowledge that funds held are the proceeds of a felony or a misdemeanour, and who wilfully commits any of the following acts, shall be considered a perpetrator of the crime of money laundering:
- transferring or moving proceeds or conducting any transaction with the aim of concealing or disguising their illegal source
- concealing or disguising the true nature, source or location of the proceeds as well as the method involving their disposition, movement, ownership of or rights with respect to said proceeds
- acquiring, possessing or using proceeds upon receipt
- assisting the perpetrator of the predicate offence to escape punishment.
- The crime of money laundering is considered as an independent crime. The punishment of the perpetrator for the predicate offence shall not prevent his punishment for the crime of money laundering
- Proving the illicit source of the proceeds should not constitute a prerequisite to sentencing the perpetrator of the predicate offence.
Moreover, according to Article 2 of Federal Decree by Law No. 10 of 2025 Regarding Anti-Money Laundering, and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing, a person is considered to be committing money laundering if they know, or should reasonably suspect, that money comes from illegal activities, and they intentionally do any of the following:
- convert or transfer the money to hide its illegal source
- conceal details such as the origin, ownership or movement of the money
- use or keep the money after receiving it
- help someone involved in a crime avoid detection or punishment.
Related links:
National Strategy for Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF)
The National Strategy for Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing (2024–2027) reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to strengthen its global leadership in this field. The strategy is based on international best practices and the UAE’s own experience, using a risk-based approach that focuses on complex and emerging threats such as trade-based money laundering, the use of third parties, complex legal structures, and risks linked to new technologies. It is also informed by the results of the national risk assessment.
The strategy focuses on improving compliance, effectiveness and sustainability by strengthening coordination at both national and international levels, enhancing information sharing, and ensuring effective oversight of private sector obligations. It also aims to improve the detection and investigation of illicit financial activities. In addition, the strategy emphasises building human and technical capabilities, improving data collection and analysis, and continuously updating legal and regulatory frameworks to keep pace with evolving risks, including those related to virtual assets and cybercrime.
It also promotes greater transparency, particularly around beneficial ownership information, and strengthens supervision of financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions. The strategy further aims to enhance the use of financial intelligence for investigations and asset recovery, support international cooperation and partnerships, improve collaboration between the public and private sectors, and develop centralised data systems. Overall, it ensures that the UAE has the resources, tools and expertise needed to effectively combat financial crimes.
Read the media coverage on the Emirates News Agency – WAM.
National coordination and policy
The UAE’s coordination framework for combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing is based on a structured system designed to ensure strong governance, effective coordination, and clear accountability across all relevant authorities.
At the highest level, the Higher Committee oversees the National Strategy for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing. It ensures that the UAE’s legal and regulatory framework is continuously updated and aligned with international best practices.
Under the Higher Committee, the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organizations Committee (NAMLCFTC) is responsible for developing the national strategy, assessing risks, and strengthening coordination and information sharing between relevant authorities. It also represents the UAE internationally and monitors the implementation of policies to ensure the effectiveness of the national system. The committee includes the following authority members:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Interior
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism
- Ministry of Community Empowerment
- Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- Securities and Commodities Authority
- General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments
- Federal Tax Authority
- Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
- Supreme Council for National Security
- Signal Intelligence Agency
- Executive office of Anti Money Laundering and Combatting Terrorist Financing
- Financial Intelligence Unit
- State Security
- Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters
- Dubai Police Force
- Ras Al Khaimah Police General Headquarters
- Public Prosecution - Abu Dhabi
- Public Prosecution - Dubai
- Prosecution - Ras Al-Khaimah
- Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) - Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC)
- Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) - Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
- Supreme Audit Institution.
To achieve its work effectively, the National Committee operates through eight specialised sub-committees, namely:
- The Sub-Committee for Technical Compliance of the United Arab Emirates’ Mutual Evaluation Report
- The Sub-Committee for Money Laundering Crimes Investigative Authorities in the United Arab Emirates
- The Sub-Committee for Supervisory Authorities in the United Arab Emirates
- The Sub-Committee for National Risk Assessment of Money-Laundering, Terrorism Financing and Illegal Organizations Financing Risks in the United Arab Emirates
- The Sub-Committee for Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of Illegal Organizations and the Financing of Proliferation in the United Arab Emirates
- The Sub-Committee of Companies Registrars in the United Arab Emirates
- The Sub-Committee for Managing and Follow-up of International Co-operation Requests Related to Money Laundering and Related Predicate Crimes and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism
- The Sub-Committee on Public-Private Partnership for Counter Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.
View the organisational chart for AML/CFT Framework in the UAE
Source: Ministry of Economy and Tourism
International collaboration
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has made international cooperation a cornerstone of its strategy to combat money laundering. Among the key international partnerships are:
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organisation based in the French capital, Paris. Founded in 1989, it aims to combat currency counterfeiting and terrorist financing. FATF recommendations set out a comprehensive and consistent framework of measures that countries should implement in order to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, in addition to financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Since the legal, administrative and operational frameworks and financial systems vary from one country to another, it is not possible for all of them to take identical measures to confront these threats. Therefore, the FATF recommendations set an international standard, which countries should implement by taking measures that have been adapted to their own circumstances. Source: Ministry of Economy and Tourism
- MENAFATF
MENAFATF (Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force) is a regional organisation established in 2004 by countries in the Middle East and North Africa to strengthen cooperation in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. It works to help member countries implement international standards set by the FATF, while respecting their national laws and systems.
The Egmont Group is a global organisation that connects Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) from different countries to help them share information and cooperate securely. It supports the exchange of financial intelligence and expertise to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and related crimes.
The anti-money laundering platform goAML system was developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. It is considered an integrated system used by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to receive, analyse and distribute suspicious transaction reports (STRs) in a fast and efficient manner. A large number of financial intelligence units worldwide are currently using it, and the United Arab Emirates is the first Gulf country to apply this modern system. Important note All Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) were required to register on the goAML portal. The goAML portal is an integrated platform used to file Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and/or Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR).
Related links:
Updated on:
06 May 2026
