The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) has opened its 41st Plenary Meeting in Manama, Bahrain, convening a two-day programme to discuss the effectiveness of member countries’ anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF) systems and the measures being implemented across the region. Chaired by MENAFATF President Samia Abu Sharif and Vice-President Hamed Al Zaabi, the Plenary brings together AML/CFT/CPF experts from member countries and observers from regional and international organizations. The agenda includes discussion of evolving regional and international money laundering patterns and methods, sharing of best practices, and presentation of MENAFATF capacity-building efforts and ongoing development work; a workshop held on 11 November 2025 addressed the current round of mutual evaluations and mechanisms for implementing the latest FATF standards, with participation from FATF, FSRBs, member countries and assessed countries. The Plenary was preceded by MENAFATF working group meetings in Manama on 9 to 10 November 2025, including the Mutual Evaluation Working Group, the Technical Assistance and Typologies Work Group, the Financial Investigations Units Forum, the Risk Committee, and the Operational Experts Forum on Terrorist Financing.
Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) 2025-11-12
Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force opens 41st Plenary in Bahrain focusing on AML CFT effectiveness and mutual evaluations
The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) began its 41st Plenary Meeting in Manama, Bahrain, to evaluate member countries' anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, and counter-proliferation financing systems. The agenda includes discussions on regional and international money laundering trends, best practices, and MENAFATF's capacity-building efforts, following preparatory meetings from 9 to 10 November 2025.