On 12 February 2026, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), chaired the 22nd meeting of the Higher Committee Overseeing the National Strategy on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing, a key milestone in the continued strengthening of the UAE’s regulatory and enforcement framework against financial crime.
The meeting, convened shortly after the implementation of a new legislative regime, reflects significant updates in UAE guideline frameworks, including legal, risk-management, and international compliance dimensions. These changes are aligned with both global standards and domestic policy priorities, and represent some of the most important updates in the UAE’s anti-money laundering (AML) strategy in recent years.
A New Legislative Foundation: Federal Law No. 10 of 2025
At the core of the updated guidelines is Federal Law No. 10 of 2025 on Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism, and Proliferation Financing. These legal reforms came into effect on 14 October 2025 and represent a full overhaul of the previous 2018 AML law, introducing broad legal and operational enhancements.
Key features include:
Incorporation of Proliferation Financing as a distinct criminal offence
For the first time, financing related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, biological, etc.) is explicitly prohibited and criminalised. This brings UAE law in closer alignment with evolving global AML standards.
Explicit inclusion of digital systems and virtual assets
The new law covers virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and digital financial activities, acknowledging the growing risk posed by emerging technologies and cryptocurrencies.
Stronger enforcement powers and penalties
Authorities now have expanded freezing and asset seizure powers, and the law includes much steeper penalties for non-compliance, signalling that both organisations and individuals could face significant consequences for violations.
Broader scope of predicate offences
The reforms lower legal thresholds for identifying offences like money laundering, and cover activities like tax evasion and other predicate crimes more comprehensively than before.
These foundational legal changes provide the framework within which the Higher Committee operates and delineate the UAE’s enhanced approach to coordinating national AML and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) efforts across multiple sectors.
Institutional Strengthening and Strategic Oversight
The meeting chaired by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed served as the first sitting of the Higher Committee since the adoption of the 2025 law. Its agenda focused on strengthening institutional coordination and preparing the UAE for an upcoming international evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an important global standard-setting body for AML/CFT/CPF (Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing).
The committee’s work reflects:
Enhanced national coordination
The meeting highlighted progress on the National AML/CFT/CPF Strategy and Action Plan, including strategic integration across relevant ministries and agencies.
Preparation for FATF Mutual Evaluation
One of the key agenda items was ensuring readiness for the scheduled FATF mutual evaluation, which assesses the UAE’s compliance with international anti-financial crime standards. This involves robust institutional readiness, effective enforcement mechanisms, and comprehensive risk assessment processes.
Adoption of new risk assessments
The Committee approved a National Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment, strengthening the country’s understanding of risks linked to weapons proliferation financing and enhancing preventative oversight.
Periodic review mechanism for risk and strategy
A key outcome was approval of a three-year cycle for updating both the National Risk Assessment and the national strategy. This ensures the UAE’s AML/CFT/CPF framework will continue evolving with emerging threats.
These steps demonstrate a shift toward continuous risk-based supervision, rather than ad hoc policy updates. They also reflect commitment to sustainable regulatory frameworks that can adapt to shifting threats.
Focus on Enforcement, Coordination and Capacity Building
Beyond legal reforms, the meeting also emphasised practical enforcement and capability development. Key areas of focus include:
Enforcement and Asset Recovery
The committee pointed to tangible improvements in enforcement, including asset confiscations and extradition actions, indicative of stronger cooperation between law enforcement and judicial authorities.
This enhanced enforcement posture supports the UAE’s broader “zero tolerance” approach toward financial crimes and underscores its commitment to safeguarding both the domestic financial system and the global financial ecosystem.
Capacity Building and National Expertise
The meeting highlighted the importance of training and capacity building across relevant institutions. Strengthening institutional expertise ensures that regulators, investigators, and compliance officers can understand complex financial crime typologies, manage risk effectively, and support proactive detection and response activities.
By investing in human capital and technical expertise, the UAE aims to not only meet international benchmarks but also operate effectively in a dynamic global financial landscape.
International Cooperation and Compliance with Global Standards
A fundamental aspect of the updated guidelines is the emphasis on international cooperation. This includes closer alignment with FATF standards and global practices:
FATF evaluation and compliance
The UAE’s readiness for its FATF mutual evaluation signals a strong commitment to maintaining high standards of compliance and transparency, mandatory for a globally integrated financial system.
Cross-border information exchange and cooperation
Federal Law No. 10 of 2025 and the associated executive regulations promote increased information sharing with international counterparts and support joint action on financial crimes, including proliferation financing.
These developments are important for international confidence, deterring illicit financial flows and reinforcing the UAE’s role as a major global financial centre.
Looking Ahead: Implications and Pathway Forward
The latest developments in the UAE’s AML/CFT/CPF framework mark a decisive shift toward proactive, risk-based regulation. They are designed not only to meet global legal requirements but also to anticipate and respond to future financial crime challenges.
The key takeaways include:
Institutionalisation of strategic review cycles
The three-year update mechanism ensures continued relevance of national risk assessments and strategy.
Broader regulatory coverage
Inclusion of virtual assets, digital transactions, and proliferation financing expands the UAE’s regulatory reach into emerging risk territories.
Stronger enforcement tools
Expanded powers for investigation, asset seizure and international cooperation support more effective enforcement.
Global integration
Preparing for FATF evaluation and aligning national law with international standards enhances the UAE’s global AML/CFT/CPF profile.
Together, these updates constitute not just compliance with global expectations but a strategic roadmap for maintaining the UAE’s status as an effective, resilient, and trusted financial jurisdiction well into the coming decade.
The guidelines highlighted during the 22nd Higher Committee meeting and the associated legal reforms represent a milestone in the UAE’s national strategy against financial crime. They combine modern legal frameworks with enhanced institutional coordination, continuous risk monitoring, global alignment, and an unwavering commitment to enforcement excellence.
By fortifying its AML/CFT/CPF ecosystem, the UAE is not only meeting international standards but also setting a forward-looking blueprint for financial integrity in an increasingly interconnected and digital world.
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