The UAE's National Committee for Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing approved a sweeping package of enforcement tools, risk assessments and institutional reforms at its second meeting of 2026, reinforcing the country's commitment to a more integrated and resilient financial crime framework.
The meeting was chaired by Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE and Chairman of the Committee, and attended by senior ministers and officials including the Ministers of Economy and Tourism, Justice and Community Empowerment.
Among the key outcomes, the committee adopted the National Guide on Financial Intelligence and Money Laundering Investigations — a comprehensive framework covering investigation procedures, asset tracking and confiscation, and coordination among enforcement authorities. Notably, the guide brings virtual assets within its scope and formalises asset recovery mechanisms, broadening the reach of financial investigations.
The committee also approved updated risk assessments across financial institutions, virtual asset service providers and designated non-financial businesses and professions. These assessments support the refinement of sectoral risk classifications and enable more targeted supervisory action.
Further decisions included the approval of the second public version of the National Risk Assessment for Proliferation Financing, and the endorsement of a National Risk Assessment for Non-Profit Organisations, aimed at strengthening transparency and applying risk-based oversight across the sector.
On the institutional side, the committee restructured its subcommittees and updated their mandates to better reflect current priorities and improve coordination among relevant entities.
Balama described the decisions as marking the national system's transition to a more advanced stage of integration, adding that the steps taken reinforce effective governance, a risk-based approach and the UAE's credibility with the international community.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
