Middle East · Country coverage

AML/CTF Compliance in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates regulates AML/CTF through the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit and the AML Law of 2018. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.

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Screening coverage for the United Arab Emirates
  • Sanctions & PEP screening
  • Adverse media checks
  • Customer identity verification
  • Jurisdiction risk checks
  • Ongoing monitoring

Key facts

AML supervisor / FIUUAE Financial Intelligence Unit (Central Bank of the UAE)
FATF statusMENAFATF member
Primary legislationFederal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018 (AML Law) and its Executive Regulations
Overview

AML/CTF compliance in the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE regulates AML/CTF through the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit, which operates under the Central Bank of the UAE, while the Dubai Financial Services Authority oversees the Dubai International Financial Centre. Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018 and its Executive Regulations form the foundational framework.

Financial institutions must run comprehensive due diligence, including for virtual asset entities, and report any suspicion to the FIU via the goAML platform regardless of amount. Designated non-financial businesses report cash or wire transactions above AED 55,000. Supervisors expect appointed compliance officers, senior management accountability, and continual sanctions monitoring.

MemberCheck helps teams meet these obligations by screening customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifying identities, and monitoring risk continuously, with a clear audit trail behind every decision.

Regulation

Key laws and regulators.

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UAE Financial Intelligence Unit

The UAE's financial intelligence unit, operating under the Central Bank of the UAE, with the Dubai Financial Services Authority regulating the Dubai International Financial Centre. Suspicious activity is reported via the goAML platform.

Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018 (AML Law)

The UAE's principal AML statute and its Executive Regulations. It requires comprehensive due diligence, sanctions compliance, and immediate reporting of any suspicion to the FIU, regardless of amount.

MENAFATF standards

As a MENAFATF member, the UAE aligns its regime with the FATF Recommendations that shape expectations for financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses.

Obligations

What regulated businesses must do.

  • Conduct due diligence (CDD/KYC), including virtual asset entities
  • Appoint a compliance officer with senior management accountability
  • Report any suspicion to the FIU via goAML, regardless of amount
  • Report cash or wire transactions above AED 55,000 (DNFBPs)
  • Ongoing monitoring of customer transactions and sanctions
  • Staff training and record keeping
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FAQ

Common questions.

Who supervises AML/CTF in the UAE?

The UAE Financial Intelligence Unit, operating under the Central Bank of the UAE, is the country's financial intelligence unit. The Dubai Financial Services Authority regulates the Dubai International Financial Centre.

What is the main AML law in the UAE?

Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018, the AML Law, and its Executive Regulations form the UAE's principal AML framework, setting due diligence, reporting, and sanctions compliance obligations.

Is the UAE a member of FATF?

The UAE is a member of MENAFATF, the FATF-style regional body for the Middle East and North Africa, and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF Recommendations.

How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in the UAE?

MemberCheck screens customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifies identities, and monitors risk continuously, with an audit trail behind every decision.

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