What is the difference between a Partial Name Match Report and a Confirmed Name Match Report?
The difference is the certainty of the match and the action that follows. A Confirmed Name Match is where the individual, entity or group matches all the key identifiers published on the UAE Local Terrorist List or the UNSC Consolidated List. A Partial Name Match is where some key identifiers match but you cannot conclude either a false positive or a confirmed match.
A confirmed match on an existing customer requires freezing without delay, within 24 hours, refraining from providing funds, assets or services, and a CNMR through goAML within five business days of the freeze. On a potential customer it requires immediate rejection of the transaction and a CNMR within five business days of rejecting. A partial match requires immediate suspension or rejection rather than freezing, and a PNMR within five business days. In short: confirmed leads to freezing, partial leads to suspension or rejection pending resolution.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· EOCN Guidance on Targeted Financial Sanctions (March 2026), Step 2, Table 6: definitions of Confirmed Name Match and Partial Name Match against the key identifiers.
· EOCN Guidance on Targeted Financial Sanctions (March 2026), Step 4: CNMR for existing and potential customers with the five business day deadline, and PNMR on suspension or rejection.
For more details, refer to the Executive Regulations or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.