Can a company lose its licence for AML violations in the UAE?
Yes. UAE supervisory authorities can impose a range of administrative penalties for breaches of the AML law, its Executive Regulations or related decisions, and revocation of the licence is among them. The available penalties escalate from a warning and administrative fines to prohibiting the violator from the relevant sector, restricting the powers of board members and management, suspending responsible individuals, suspending or restricting the activity, and ultimately revoking the licence.
Administrative fines range from ten thousand dirhams to five million dirhams for each violation, and can be increased where the same violation recurs within a year. Supervisory authorities may also require periodic remediation reports and may publish the penalties imposed. Licence revocation is generally reserved for the most serious or persistent failings, but the graduated framework means weak AML compliance can carry existential consequences for a regulated business.
Legal Reference (UAE):
ยท Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Article 17 - administrative penalties, including fines up to AED 5 million per violation and revocation of the licence.
For more details, consult the full text of Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.