The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Justice, held the first 2026 forum focused on improving Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) requirements. The event was positioned as part of implementing the national AML/CFT strategy framework and as a platform to strengthen dialogue on mechanisms to enhance DNFBP compliance. Held at the Ministry of Justice headquarters in Abu Dhabi, the forum convened private-sector representatives and AML/CFT experts and covered DNFBP segments including real estate brokers and agents, dealers in precious metals and stones, independent accountants and auditors, corporate service providers, and lawyers and legal consultants. Sessions addressed customer due diligence (including identifying customers and beneficial owners and ongoing risk assessment), reporting suspicious activities, supervisory coordination and information exchange, inspection and awareness mechanisms, and the implications of the UAE National Risk Assessment for setting supervisory priorities and risk-based oversight. The programme also highlighted implementation challenges such as resource constraints, gaps in specialised expertise and legislative understanding, reliance on manual processes, and limitations in technical tools, and concluded with a Ministry of Economy and Tourism presentation on the FATF and MENAFATF mutual evaluation methodology and related practical recommendations.

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