What is the difference between a DPMSR and a Suspicious Transaction Report in the UAE?
A Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Report (DPMSR) and a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) are both filed on the UAE goAML portal, but they are triggered by very different things and a dealer may need to file both.
A DPMSR is a value-based report. It is required whenever a dealer carries out a designated transaction, meaning a cash transaction (or, for corporate customers, cash or international wire transfer) of AED 55,000 or more, whether as one dealing or several linked dealings. It must be filed within two weeks of the transaction, and it does not imply any wrongdoing.
An STR is a suspicion-based report. It must be filed whenever the dealer suspects, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, that funds or a transaction represent proceeds of crime or are linked to terrorist or proliferation financing, regardless of the amount involved and without delay. There is no monetary threshold for an STR, and it can arise even where no DPMSR is due. Tipping off the customer about an STR is prohibited.
In short: a DPMSR reflects a threshold being crossed, while an STR reflects a concern being formed.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Article 18(1) — duty to report suspicious transactions to the FIU without delay, regardless of value.
· Cabinet Resolution No. 134 of 2025, Article 6 — due diligence obligations that support both report types.
For more details, consult the full text of Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.