# What are the AML obligations of nominee shareholders and directors in the UAE?

**URL:** <https://www.amlfaqs.com/t/what-are-the-aml-obligations-of-nominee-shareholders-and-directors-in-the-uae/1385>\
**Category:** UAE\
**Tags:** beneficial-owner, ubo, dnfbps\
**Created:** [August 1, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://www.amlfaqs.com/t/what-are-the-aml-obligations-of-nominee-shareholders-and-directors-in-the-uae/1385 "2026-08-01T15:55:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
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**Author:** ![Monika](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/www.amlfaqs.com/monika/32/200_2.png) [@Monika](https://www.amlfaqs.com/u/Monika)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://www.amlfaqs.com/t/what-are-the-aml-obligations-of-nominee-shareholders-and-directors-in-the-uae/1385/1 "2026-08-01T15:55:51Z")

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What are the AML obligations of nominee shareholders and directors in the UAE?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Monika](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/www.amlfaqs.com/monika/32/200_2.png) [@Monika](https://www.amlfaqs.com/u/Monika)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://www.amlfaqs.com/t/what-are-the-aml-obligations-of-nominee-shareholders-and-directors-in-the-uae/1385/2 "2026-08-01T15:56:15Z")

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Nominee shareholders and nominee directors sit at the centre of AML transparency concerns because they can be used to hide the person who really owns or controls a company. Under UAE AML law a nominee is not treated as the beneficial owner merely by holding shares or performing management functions on someone else’s instructions; the real controller behind them must still be identified.

The Executive Regulations require the regime to regulate the obligations of companies, nominee directors and nominee shareholders. In practice a nominee must disclose their nominee status and the identity of the person on whose behalf they act, so that registrars and service providers can record the true beneficial owner. A company service provider that arranges nominees must apply due diligence to both the nominee and the underlying controller, and treat undisclosed or unexplained nominee arrangements as a red flag warranting closer scrutiny or a report.

**Legal Reference (UAE):**

· [Federal Decree-Law 10/2025](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/federal-decree-law-no-10-2025-regarding-anti-money-laundering-and-combating-financing), Article 19(2)(c) — the Executive Regulations regulate the obligations of nominee directors and shareholders.

· [Cabinet Resolution 134/2025](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/cabinet-resolution-no-134-2025-regarding-executive-regulations-federal-decree-law-no-10), Article 3(5) — brings arranging nominee roles within DNFBP activity.

_For more details, consult the full text of Cabinet Resolution 134/2025 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer._

[Money laundering risk associated with nominee shareholders and directors](https://amluae.com/money-laundering-risk-associated-with-nominee-shareholders-and-directors/)