By H.E Khaled Balama
Governor of the CBUAE and Chairman of the NAMLCFTC
GLOBAL trade and finance are undergoing rapid transformation.
As a dynamic global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, trade and investment, the United Arab Emirates understands the opportunities that come with integration into the international financial system yet deploy strict governance and controls to evade misconduct.
With this position comes responsibility and firm belief that safeguarding financial integrity is a global imperative. This is a shared responsibility the UAE considers a key priority, not just domestically, but internationally. In 2025, the UAE created tailored guidance on topical areas of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks.
Guidance on risks related to trade-based money laundering and transhipment, and risks related to proliferation finance. Promoting trade and investment is key, but having well established controls and preventive measures is as important.
In line with this vision, Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital, recently hosted a landmark event – the first-ever global roundtable of all nine FATF-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs), held with the participation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Secretariat.
‘The meeting represented not only a shift in geography, but a strategic shift in global leadership and mindset: a commitment to inclusive, “representative” leadership, where regional experiences help shape global solutions’
For the first time, this level of global coordination occurred outside a FATF plenary and within the Middle East. The meeting represented not only a shift in geography, but a strategic shift in global leadership and mindset: a commitment to inclusive, “representative” leadership, where regional experiences help shape global solutions.
The event was far from just symbolic. From Latin America to West Africa, the Pacific to Eastern Europe, participants brought deep insight into the nuanced, context-specific threats confronting their regions. These perspectives do not dilute global standards — they enrich and strengthen them.
For the UAE, this moment is part of a broader journey. We are fully committed to building a sustainable, effective, and internationally aligned approach to combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and the financing of proliferation. This commitment is reinforced at the highest levels of leadership, along with guidance of the Higher Committee Overseeing the National Strategy for Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
Our efforts are guided by robust risk-based tools — including the National Risk Assessment, which was conducted using internationally recognized methodologies such as those of the World Bank; to mitigate identified risks.
These strategies and tools foster close coordination among supervisory bodies, law enforcement, judicial authorities, and the private sector to form a unified front in the effective fight against Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing (ML/TF/PF).
‘The message was clear: financial crime is borderless, but so is our resolve. Illicit finance is not only an economic threat. It fuels corruption, weakens institutions, and undermines governance’
The UAE’s commitment is not just policy – it is practice. Last year, the National Police dismantled a multinational network, seizing USD 125 million in illicit funds. This is just one example of the UAE’s resolve in action, demonstrating that we do not shy away from tackling serious financial crime within our jurisdiction.
But enforcement alone is not enough. The Abu Dhabi FSRBs event was a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and meaningful progress. It underscored the importance of governance reform within regional bodies, as well as preparation for the next round of mutual evaluations. Crucially, it ensured that the voices of countries in the Global South — often those most acutely affected by illicit finance — were heard and integrated.
We continue to work closely with FATF and other international partners to further strengthen mutual understanding, enhance cooperation and consolidate the respective systems.
The message was clear: financial crime is borderless, but so is our resolve. Illicit finance is not only an economic threat. It fuels corruption, weakens institutions, and undermines governance — with low-capacity states and vulnerable communities bearing the greatest burden. It corrodes the social fabric and diverts resources away from sustainable development. This is why our approach is anchored in ethics, integrity, and a shared sense of responsibility.
Therefore, regional perspectives are not peripheral — they are pivotal. Incorporating them into international frameworks builds resilience into the global system itself. The UAE firmly believes that shared prosperity depends on secure, open, and trusted markets. This belief drives our support for multilateralism and our efforts to bridge jurisdictions through cooperation and common purpose.
Hosting the FSRB Roundtable reaffirmed the UAE’s strategic commitment to the global AML/CFT network. It was an example of inclusive cooperation, mutual accountability, and unwavering commitment in action. It was also a call to remain vigilant. Criminal networks adapt quickly and so must we. As systems grow more interconnected, our collective response must grow more cohesive and utilise innovative technologies to continually refine our approach.
As we continue along this path, we must remember that every partnership forged, every reform enacted, and every financial crime threat neutralized brings us closer to our shared goal: a global financial system that upholds integrity, security and stability. It is only with these strong foundations can we expect to collectively foster innovation, safeguard trade, and uplift economies for the benefit of all regions.
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