Which money laundering threats did the UAE National Risk Assessment 2024 rate as highest?
The UAE ML/TF Risk Assessment 2024 rates the highest money laundering threats as those flowing from major predicate crimes. Drug trafficking and fraud are rated highest, followed by goods piracy and counterfeiting, cash and gold smuggling, foreign corruption and tax evasion, with human trafficking, environmental crime and other offences also assessed.
On the methods side, the assessment highlights trade-based money laundering and professional third-party laundering through the misuse of legal entity structures as predominant typologies. Emerging threats flagged include the misuse of virtual assets and rising cybercrime. Regulated entities should treat these as priority risk indicators when calibrating monitoring rules and red-flag typologies.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Article 19(1)(a) — obligation to identify, assess and continuously update the risks of the crime within the business scope using a risk-based approach.
· UAE ML/TF National Risk Assessment 2024 — national findings on threats and typologies published by the NAMLCFTC.
For more details, consult the full text of the UAE NRA 2024 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.