The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) has opened its 41st Plenary Meeting in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, convening regional AML/CFT/CPF experts and international observers for a two-day programme focused on the effectiveness of member countries’ AML/CFT systems and related regional cooperation. The agenda covers discussion of measures undertaken by each member country, emerging regional and international money laundering patterns and methods, and the sharing of best practices, alongside presentations on MENAFATF capacity-building and ongoing development work in the region. A workshop held on 11 November 2025 addressed the current round of mutual evaluations and mechanisms for implementing the latest Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, with participation from FATF, FATF-style regional bodies, member countries and assessed countries; the plenary also followed MENAFATF working group meetings held in Manama on 9–10 November 2025, including the Mutual Evaluation Working Group, Technical Assistance and Typologies Work Group, Financial Investigations Units Forum, Risk Committee and 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 to review AML CFT effectiveness and mutual evaluation work
The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) began its 41st Plenary Meeting in Manama, Bahrain, focusing on member countries' Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) systems and regional cooperation. The agenda includes discussions on member measures, emerging money laundering patterns, and best practices, alongside a workshop on mutual evaluations and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards implementation.