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  • Section 2 Exchange of Information between Competent Authorities and Counterparts

    • Article (53)

      In accordance with the legislation and agreements in force in the State or on the condition of reciprocity, the competent authorities shall:

      1. Execute requests received from any foreign entity and exchange information on the Crime at the appropriate speed with foreign counterparts, and obtain any other requested information on its behalf, even if such requests change in nature, whether spontaneously or upon request.
         
      2. Provide feedback to foreign counterparts on the use of the information obtained and the extent to which it was beneficial, if requested to do so.
         
      3. Obtain a declaration or undertaking from the foreign counterpart that international cooperation information will only be used for the intended purpose, unless prior approval has been obtained.
         
      4. Use international cooperation information obtained for the intended purpose, unless the foreign counterpart grants its approval for use for another purpose.
         
      5. Refuse to provide information in the event that it is not effectively protected by the foreign counterpart requesting international cooperation.
         
    • Article (54)

      1. The Competent Authorities commit to provide the means for international cooperation with respect to the basic information and Beneficial Owners of companies and legal arrangements, whereby such cooperation shall include the following:
         
        1. Facilitating the access of foreign competent authorities to basic information held by the registries of companies and legal arrangements;
           
        2. Exchanging information on legal arrangements and the shareholders in companies;
           
        3. Using their powers to obtain all the information on Beneficial Owners on behalf of foreign counterparts.
           
      2. The Competent Authorities shall supervise the implementation quality for the international cooperation requests received from other countries in relation to basic company information and Beneficial Ownership for companies and legal arrangements, as well as the requests for international cooperation relating to determining the location of the Beneficial Owner from companies abroad.
         
    • Article (55)

      In accordance with the legislation in force in the State, and the provisions of the agreements to which they are a party, and on the condition of reciprocity, the Supervisory Authorities of the Financial Institutions shall:

      1. Exchange information relating to the appropriate Crime that it maintains and which is available to it directly or indirectly, with foreign counterparts, regardless of their nature, and consistent with the relevant international financial control principles relevant to anti money-laundering and combating the financing of terrorism applicable to each of them, including information on:
         
        1. The regulatory framework of the financial sectors and the general information related to them.
           
        2. Preventive financial control measures such as information related to the activities and works of financial institutions, their real beneficiaries, their management, and information of merit and eligibility.
           
        3. Internal policies of financial institutions in the field of combatting the Crime, CDD information of Customers, and of information related to accounts and transactions.
           
      2. Obtaining prior approval of the foreign supervisory authority, where the information is required for transmission or use, other than for the intended purpose, and to informing it of the matter in the event of disclosure of such information whenever it is the result of a legal obligation.
         
      3. Requesting or facilitating access to information on behalf of the foreign supervisory authority, for the purposes of enhancing supervision on the financial group.
         
    • Article (56)

      Without prejudice to the provisions of the treaties and conventions to which the State is a party and subject to reciprocity; and without prejudice to the legislation in force in the State, Law Enforcement Authorities, in coordination with the Competent Authority, may:

      1. Exchange information held by it, either directly or indirectly, with foreign counterparts for purposes of investigation or collection of inferences relating to Crime, identification and tracking of proceeds and intermediaries.
         
      2. Use the powers conferred upon it in accordance with the legislation in force in the State to conduct investigations and obtain information on behalf of the foreign counterpart, and coordinate the formation of bilateral or multilateral teams to conduct joint investigations.