Who supervises trust and company service providers for AML in the UAE?
For trust and company service providers licensed onshore in the UAE, the Ministry of Economy is the AML supervisory authority. Providers licensed in the financial free zones, the ADGM and the DIFC, are supervised by those zones’ own regulators instead.
The Ministry of Economy sets AML expectations for the sector, conducts desk-based and on-site inspections, and can impose administrative penalties for breaches. Its core instruments for company service providers are Circular 4 of 2021, which explains the obligations and the inspection approach, and the supplemental guidance for trust and company service providers. Providers should register on the Ministry’s supervisory portal, subscribe to sanctions alert notifications and keep their programme aligned with the Ministry’s circulars and the Executive Regulations.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· Federal Decree-Law 10/2025, Article 16 — powers of supervisory authorities over DNFBPs.
· Ministry of Economy, Circular 4 of 2021 — AML obligations and supervision of company service providers.
For more details, consult the full text of Federal Decree-Law 10/2025 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.