Saudi Arabia Financial Investigation Unit (SAFIU)
Saudi Arabia's financial intelligence unit, operating under the Presidency of State Security. It receives, analyses, and disseminates suspicious transaction reports to competent authorities.
Middle East · Country coverage
AML/CTF Compliance in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia regulates AML/CTF through SAMA, the Capital Market Authority, SAFIU, and the Anti-Money Laundering Law. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.
Last updated
Screening coverage for Saudi Arabia
- Sanctions & PEP screening
- Adverse media checks
- Customer identity verification
- Jurisdiction risk checks
- Ongoing monitoring
Key facts
AML supervisor / FIUSaudi Central Bank (SAMA), Capital Market Authority and other supervisory authorities; Saudi Arabia Financial Investigation Unit (SAFIU) as FIU
FATF statusFATF member (joined 2019)
Primary legislationAnti-Money Laundering Law (Royal Decree M/20, 2017)
Overview
AML/CTF compliance in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has strengthened its AML/CTF framework in line with international standards, anchored by the Anti-Money Laundering Law issued under Royal Decree M/20 in 2017. Supervision is carried out by the sector regulators, principally the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Capital Market Authority, with ministries supervising designated non-financial businesses, while the Saudi Arabia Financial Investigation Unit receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports for the Kingdom.
Financial institutions and designated businesses must run customer due diligence, identify beneficial owners, monitor transactions, and report suspicious activity to SAFIU. Supervisors expect documented risk assessments, sound record keeping, and controls proportionate to the risks a firm faces.
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
All solutions →Key laws and regulators.
Anti-Money Laundering Law (Royal Decree M/20, 2017)
The Kingdom's principal AML statute. It sets customer due diligence, record-keeping, and suspicious transaction reporting duties for financial institutions and designated businesses.
FATF membership
Saudi Arabia joined the Financial Action Task Force as a full member in 2019 and aligns its regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations that shape expectations for regulated firms.
Supervisory authorities
The Implementing Regulation to the Anti-Money Laundering Law names the supervisory authorities. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) supervises banks, finance companies and payment firms, the Capital Market Authority supervises securities firms, and the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Justice supervise designated non-financial businesses and professions.
Obligations
What regulated businesses must do.
- Customer due diligence on customers and beneficial owners
- Identify and verify beneficial ownership
- File suspicious transaction reports (STRs) with SAFIU
- Ongoing monitoring of customer transactions
- Conduct and document risk assessments
- Maintain records for the required retention period
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
<1s
Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ
Common questions.
Who supervises AML/CTF in Saudi Arabia?
AML/CTF supervision sits with the sector regulators named in the Implementing Regulation to the Anti-Money Laundering Law. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) supervises banks, finance companies and payment firms, the Capital Market Authority supervises securities firms, and the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Justice supervise designated non-financial businesses. The Saudi Arabia Financial Investigation Unit (SAFIU), under the Presidency of State Security, is the separate financial intelligence unit that receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports.
What is the main AML law in Saudi Arabia?
The Anti-Money Laundering Law, issued by Royal Decree M/20 in 2017, is Saudi Arabia's principal AML statute, setting customer due diligence, record-keeping, and suspicious transaction reporting obligations.
Is Saudi Arabia a member of FATF?
Yes. Saudi Arabia joined the Financial Action Task Force as a full member in 2019 and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations.
How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in Saudi Arabia?
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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