Is the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit part of the Central Bank?
Yes. Under the new UAE AML law, an independent Financial Intelligence Unit is established within the Central Bank, and it acts independently in carrying out its functions. Although it sits inside the Central Bank structurally, its analytical and operational independence is protected by the law.
The Unit is the single national point to which all suspicious transaction reports and related information must be submitted, exclusively, by financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, and virtual asset service providers. It studies and analyses those reports and refers them to the relevant authorities, either automatically or on request. Its powers include requesting additional information, exchanging information and cooperating with counterpart units abroad, concluding memoranda of understanding, and maintaining a secure national database with appropriate cybersecurity controls.
In practice, UAE reporting entities interact with the Unit through the goAML portal. Understanding that the Unit is the exclusive recipient of reports, and that it operates independently within the Central Bank, helps compliance teams direct reports and information requests to the correct national authority.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Article 11 — establishes the FIU within the Central Bank as an independent unit and the exclusive recipient of STRs.
For more details, consult the full text of Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.