The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has issued an updated package of guidance on anti-money laundering, combating the financing of terrorism and countering proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF) for licensed financial institutions and registered hawala providers. The update is positioned as aligning supervisory expectations with international best practices, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements and the UAE National Strategy 2024–2027, with a focus on strengthening the effectiveness of firms’ compliance systems. The package comprises four regulatory guidance documents and two best-practice manuals. The regulatory guidance covers: proliferation financing risk, including expectations around assessing inherent PF risk, evaluating controls and remediation where gaps are identified, and continuously monitoring emerging PF risks and typologies; trade-based money laundering and transshipment risks; managing AML/CFT/CPF risks in correspondent banking relationships, including internal policy and procedure expectations; and customer due diligence, know your customer and record-keeping, including customer identity verification across the relationship lifecycle, risk profiling, simplified and enhanced due diligence, and the types of data and documentation to be retained. The best-practice manuals address implementing a risk-based approach and conducting institutional risk assessments, and implementing role-based AML/CFT/CPF training for employees and senior management.
Central Bank of the UAE 2026-04-16
Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates updates AML/CFT/CPF guidance on proliferation financing, trade-based money laundering, correspondent banking and CDD
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has issued updated anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing guidance for licensed financial institutions and registered hawala providers, aligning expectations with Financial Action Task Force standards and the UAE National Strategy 2024–2027. The package comprises four guidance documents on proliferation financing risk, trade-based money laundering and transshipment, correspondent banking risk management, and customer due diligence, know your customer and record-keeping, plus two best-practice manuals on risk-based approaches, institutional risk assessments and role-based training.