UAE to launch study on regional fraud, money laundering

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 29, 2026

The United Arab Emirates is leading a regional effort under its MENAFATF presidency to study fraud typologies and money laundering across the Middle East and North Africa, with a formal proposal set for the upcoming plenary meeting in Abu Dhabi. This initiative aims to enhance cooperation, develop early detection tools, and establish a shared knowledge base to better address the evolving challenges of financial crime in the region.

The United Arab Emirates plans to spearhead a regional initiative aimed at studying fraud typologies and related money laundering activities as part of its current presidency of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF). The proposal, designed to enhance understanding of fraud risks and foster cooperation among member states, is expected to be formally introduced at the upcoming MENAFATF Plenary Meeting in Abu Dhabi.

Hamid Saif Al Zaabi, President of MENAFATF, outlined the initiative during a press conference on the sidelines of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, currently being held in Abu Dhabi. The project is intended to address the cross-border nature of fraud, the evolving tactics employed by criminals, and the rapid expansion of digital financial services, all of which highlight the need for a coordinated regional approach.

The UAE’s presidency of MENAFATF prioritizes supporting the implementation of international standards and improving the effectiveness of national anti-financial crime frameworks. Al Zaabi emphasized the importance of developing early detection mechanisms and enhancing coordination among authorities to track illicit proceeds of fraud and combat money laundering.

The proposed initiative will build a regional knowledge base to document the various types, methods, and scale of fraud occurring across MENA countries. It will also encourage the sharing of case studies and expert knowledge, facilitating the development of indicators to identify emerging patterns in fraud and related laundering activities.

Additional objectives include addressing obstacles encountered during the freezing, seizure, and recovery of criminal assets. Al Zaabi also called for the establishment of a regional network of practitioners to improve collaboration and information exchange among member states.

Through these coordinated efforts, the UAE aims to strengthen regional capabilities in detecting and responding to financial crime, reinforcing the overall integrity of the financial system in the Middle East and North Africa.

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