Can the UAE enforce a foreign confiscation order without a local investigation?
Yes. Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 allows a judgment or judicial order issued by a competent court or judicial authority in another State, providing for provisional measures or confiscation of criminal property or of funds equivalent in value, to be executed in the UAE without the need for national investigations, where it relates to a predicate offence or money laundering.
The law also removes common grounds for refusing international cooperation. A request cannot be rejected merely because it involves financial, customs or tax matters, or because of banking confidentiality rules, subject to narrow exceptions such as legal professional privilege. Concerned authorities must give priority to cooperation requests linked to financial crime and execute them quickly.
This framework reflects the UAE’s commitment to cross border asset recovery and its alignment with international standards. For regulated entities, it is a reminder that records and transaction data may be requested to support foreign proceedings, so reliable record keeping and prompt responses to lawful authority requests remain important parts of a compliance programme.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Article 21 permits execution of foreign confiscation orders without local investigation and limits the grounds for refusing international cooperation
For more details, consult the full text of Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.