UAE adopts measures to strengthen anti-money laundering system

April 28, 2026 / 7:39 PM

Sharjah24-WAM: The National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations has approved a comprehensive set of decisions and initiatives at its second meeting of 2026, aimed at enhancing national readiness, developing investigative and enforcement tools, and strengthening institutional integration among relevant entities.

The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Khaled Mohamed Balama, Chairman of the National Committee, and attended by His Excellency Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui; His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri; His Excellency Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi; His Excellency Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri; His Excellency Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Al Zaabi; and His Excellency Hamed Saif Al Zaabi, together with committee members and subcommittee heads.

Enhancing governance and coordination

The committee reviewed updates on the technical teams' work and progress on regulatory and operational initiatives, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the efficiency of the national system and improving performance measurement.

It also approved the restructuring of subcommittees and the updating of their mandates to align with current priorities, thereby enhancing coordination among relevant entities and improving decision-making.

New national guide for financial investigations

As part of efforts to strengthen law-enforcement tools, the committee approved the “National Guide for Financial Intelligence and Money Laundering Investigations,” which sets out updated procedures for conducting investigations, tracking and confiscating assets, and enhancing coordination among competent authorities.

The guide also incorporates virtual assets into its framework and regulates asset-recovery mechanisms, thereby expanding the scope and effectiveness of financial investigations.