-
Combatting Money Laundering & Terrorism Financing
The UAE is committed to combatting illegal financial activities such as money laundering and financing of terrorism. The country’s policies and strategies detect and deter financial crimes on its soil, and prevent the use of its lands as a transit route or to transfer funds resulting from any criminal activity. The UAE also supports global efforts to counter money laundering and combat the
financing of terrorism, seeking to fully implement the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The Path to Combatting Financial Crimes Through the Years
The UAE has taken major steps during the past years to set the legal framework and identify institutional paths for implementing the procedures and measures that would contribute to countering money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism and illegal organisations.

What is Money Laundering?
Money laundering is defined as any financial or banking transaction aimed at concealing or changing the source of illegally obtained funds, by passing it through the financial and banking system in order to make it appear as originating from legitimate sources, and then re-pumping and investing it illegally.
Learn about..
Economic recession
Increase in crime and corruption
-
Threat to economic stability
-
Weaken financial institutions

Legislation, Rules and Regulations
The Law
Executive Regulation
Decisions
- Cabinet Decision No. (16) of 2021 Regarding the Unified List of the Violations and Administrative Fines for the Said Violations of Measures to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing
- Cabinet Decision No. (58) of 2020 Regulating the Beneficial Owner Procedures
- Cabinet Resolution No. (74) of 2020 Regarding the Terrorist List System and The Implementation of Security Council Resolutions Related to Preventing and Suppressing Terrorism and Its financing, Counter of Proliferation and its financing, and the relevant resolutions
Guides
- Guidelines for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions
- Supplemental Guidance for Auditors
- Supplemental Guidance for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones
- Supplemental Guidance for the Real Estate Sector
- Supplemental Guidance for Trust and Company Service Providers
- Typologies on the circumvention of Targeted Sanctions against Terrorism and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Guidance on Targeted Financial Sanctions
Related Links
Authorities concerned with AML/CFT and Financing of illegal organizations in the UAE:
Regulatory Authorities:
- Ministry of Economy
- The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates
- Securities and Commodities Authority
- Ministry of Justice
- Insurance Authority
- Dubai Financial Services Authority
- Financial Services Regulator Authority in Abu Dhabi Global Market
Financial Intellegent Unit (FIU)
Law Enforcement Agencies
- The Supreme Council for National Security
- Public Prosecution - Abu Dhabi
- Public Prosecution - Dubai
- Prosecution Office - Ras Al Khaimah
- Ministry of Interior
Ports (Manafth):
Other important websites: