What is the role of the National Committee for AML and CFT in the UAE?

UAE
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The National Committee for Combating Money Laundering, the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing is the UAE’s central coordination body. It is chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank, and its formation is set by Cabinet resolution on the proposal of the Minister of Finance. It sits below the Supreme Committee, which supervises the overall national strategy.

Under Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, the National Committee develops the national strategy, identifies and assesses money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks at the national level, and coordinates with the various authorities. It also identifies high risk countries, directs supervisory authorities to verify compliance with countermeasures, assesses the effectiveness of the national regime by collecting statistics, monitors the UAE’s mutual evaluation process, and represents the State in international forums. For compliance teams, the National Committee’s national risk assessment is a key input into their own business risk assessments.

Legal Reference (UAE):

For more details, consult the full text of Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.

A guide to anti-money laundering laws in the UAE

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The National Committee for Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing is the national coordinating body established under the AML law. Its competences are set out in Article 14 of the Decree-Law and expanded in Article 48 of the Executive Regulations.

For regulated businesses the most operationally significant function is its role in identifying high-risk countries. The Executive Regulations require enhanced due diligence proportionate to risk for business relationships and transactions with persons from countries the National Committee identifies as high risk, or from countries with deficiencies in their AML, counter-terrorist financing and proliferation financing systems, together with any countermeasures the supervisory authority or the National Committee requires.

Legal Reference (UAE):

· Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Articles 13 and 14: formation and competences of the National Committee.

· Cabinet Resolution No. 134 of 2025, Article 23: enhanced due diligence and countermeasures for countries the National Committee identifies as high risk; Article 48: expanded National Committee competences.

Where the position is finely balanced, document your reasoning and raise it with your compliance officer.

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