2.3 AML/CFT National Strategy Framework

Effective from 13/7/2023

Money laundering and the financing of terrorism are crimes that threaten the security, stability and integrity of the global economic and financial system, and of society as a whole. The estimated volume of the proceeds of crime, including the financing of terrorism, that are laundered each year is between 2-5% of global GDP. Yet, by some estimates, the volume of criminal proceeds that are actually seized is in the range of only 2% of the total, while roughly only half of that amount eventually ends up being confiscated by competent judicial authorities. Combating money laundering and the financing of terrorist activities is therefore an urgent priority in the global fight against organised crime.

The UAE is deeply committed to combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and illegal organisations. To this end, the Competent Authorities have established the appropriate legislative, regulatory and institutional frameworks for the prevention, detection and deterrence of financial crimes, including ML/FT. They also continue to work towards reinforcing the capabilities of the resources committed to these efforts, and towards improving their effectiveness by implementing the internationally accepted AML/CFT standards recommended and promoted by FATF, MENAFATF and the other FSRBs, as well as by the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

As part of these efforts, the Competent Authorities of the UAE have taken a number of substantive actions, including among others:

•	Enhancing the federal legislative and regulatory framework, embodied by the introduction of the new AML/CFT Law and Cabinet Decision, which incorporate the FATF standards;
•	Conducting the National Risk Assessment (NRA) to identify and assess the ML/FT threats and inherent vulnerabilities to which the country is exposed, as well as to assess its capacity in regard to combating ML/FT at the national level;
•	Formulating a National AML/CFT Strategy and Action Plan that incorporate the results of the NRA and which are designed to ensure the effective implementation, supervision, and continuous improvement of a national framework for the combating of ML/FT, as well as to provide the necessary strategic and tactical direction to the country’s public and private sector institutions in this regard.

The National Strategy on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism of the United Arab Emirates is based on four pillars, each of which is associated with its own strategic priorities. These strategic priorities in turn inform and shape the key initiatives of the country’s National Action Plan on AML/CFT.

The pillars of the National Strategy, together with their strategic priorities are summarised in the table below:

National AML/CFT Strategic Pillars	Strategic Priorities
Legislative & Regulatory Measures	Increase effectiveness and efficiency of legislative and regulatory policies and ensure compliance
Transparent Analysis of Intelligence	Leverage the use of financial databases and the development of information analysis systems to enhance the transparent analysis and dissemination of financial intelligence information
Domestic and International Cooperation & Coordination	Promote the efficiency and effectiveness of domestic and international coordination and cooperation with regard to the availability and exchange of information
Compliance and Law Enforcement	Ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of ML/FT crimes and the timely implementation of TFS

The National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations has identified a number of key drivers of success in achieving the goals of the National AML/CFT Strategy. These include, among other things, ensuring:

•	Effective coordination between the Financial Intelligence Unit, Law Enforcement Authorities, Public Prosecutors, Supervisory Authorities, and other Competent Authorities within the country;
•	Effective compliance with the laws and regulations governing banking activities and other financial services;
•	Awareness by FIs of the relevant ML/FT risks facing the UAE in general, and their sectors in particular, as informed by the results of the NRA, as well as their awareness of their statutory obligations in regard to the management and mitigation of those risks.

The present Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations Guidelines for Financial Institutions are thus intended to advance the efforts of the Committee, the Supervisory Authorities, and the other Competent Authorities of the State in this direction.