What is the difference between a REAR and an STR for real estate professionals?
A Real Estate Activity Report (REAR) and a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) are distinct filings that a real estate professional may need to submit through goAML. A REAR is triggered objectively, by the nature of the payment, whenever a qualifying freehold transaction involves cash of AED 55,000 or more, or any virtual asset. No suspicion is required.
An STR, by contrast, is triggered subjectively, whenever the firm suspects or has reasonable grounds to suspect that funds represent the proceeds of, or relate to, a crime, regardless of the amount or payment method. The two are not mutually exclusive: a single deal that involves a large cash payment and also raises suspicion can require both a REAR and an STR. Filing a REAR does not discharge the separate duty to report genuine suspicion.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Article 18 - sets the suspicion-based reporting obligation underlying the STR.
· Real Estate Activity Report (REAR), MoET Circular No. 05/2022, filed via the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit goAML portal - establishes the transaction-based REAR trigger.
For more details, consult the full text of Circular No. 05/2022 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.