Does UAE law criminalise proliferation financing?
Yes. Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 expressly criminalises proliferation financing, which the previous 2018 law did not cover as a standalone offence. Proliferation financing means providing or making available funds, directly or indirectly, knowing they will be used for the manufacture, acquisition, development, supply, transport or use of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, or related dual-use goods and technologies.
The offence also captures conduct falling under United Nations Security Council resolutions issued under Chapter VII concerning the prevention and suppression of proliferation. Knowledge can be inferred from the factual and objective circumstances. Regulated entities must factor proliferation financing risk into their enterprise risk assessment, screening and targeted financial sanctions controls, because exposure is no longer limited to money laundering and terrorist financing alone.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Article 3(3) — defines the proliferation financing offence
For more details, consult the full text of Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.