The UAE is the first to launch the goAML platform in the GCC

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 23 June 2019: UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) announced the launch of their new reporting platform (goAML), developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to facilitate the receipt, analysis and dissemination of suspicious transactions and activity reports to the UAE’s Law Enforcement Authorities. The FIU will use the goAML to gather and analyse intelligence submitted by reporting entities, which is then analysed and disseminated to law enforcement authorities when deemed necessary.
H.E. Mubarak Rashed Al Mansoori, Governor of CBUAE and Chairperson of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations Committee, said “We are proud to be the first country in the GCC to implement goAML. Our objective have always been to provide support for UAE’s financial institutions in line with global standards. The platform will act as an integral part of the FIU by elevating its IT infrastructure, strengthening a country wide cooperation against criminal activity. This will also help us better observe trends when analysing suspicious transaction reports, helping eliminate potential threats at more efficient rates”.
In collaboration with UNODC, the platform was specifically customised to commensurate with the requirements of the UAE’s anti-money laundering and Counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) framework and key stakeholders.
Judge Hatem Fouad Aly, Regional Representative of UNODC said: “The UNODC works in partnership with the National Anti-Money Laundering in Committee and alongside several government entities, including the FIU, to aid in the development of essential programmes such as the goAML. The platform was developed by UNODC as a strategic response against financial crime, as advised by the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It is a one-stop, fully integrated solution that meets the IT needs of most FIUs, with the primary objective of enhancing the capacity of Member States to detect financial crime and to meet international standards relating to money laundering and terrorist financing”.
Through this project, the UAE FIU and UNODC also contribute to the efforts of the international community towards implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 16 and its Target 16.4 (‘By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organised crime’).
Entities such as financial institutions (i.e. banks, exchange houses, finance companies), law enforcement, Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs), etc. will witness an increased level of coordination as a result of the effective and user-friendly nature of the goAML platform.
Ali Ba’Alawi, Acting Head of Financial Intelligence Unit, said: “The goAML provided the necessary infrastructure to allow the FIU to build a customised module to connect various intelligence databases, enriching the level of intelligence and identifying complex and possible organised criminal activities. The FIU aims to ensure an overall safer community by preventing money laundering, financing of terrorism and any illicit financial activity .goAML will help the FIU achieve its aim.
The Financial Intelligence Unit, being the central repository of financial intelligence in the UAE, will exchange intelligence with the relevant stakeholders domestically through the goAML, hence enhancing the UAE’s national coordination.
Reporting entities are encouraged to complete their registration before 27 June 2019. For more information on the registration process, please reach us through goaml@uaefiu.gov.ae

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4 August 2019- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Arabia Financial Intelligence Unit.

Upon their arrival, Brigadier General Otaibi Bin Khader Al Malki, Director of the FIU of KSA, and his delegation were welcomed by H.E. Mubarak Rashed Al Mansoori, Governor of Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and Chairperson of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations. He was also accompanied by H.E. Saif Hadef Al Shamsi, the Deputy Governor of CBUAE and Mr. Ali Faisal Ba’Alawi, Acting Head of FIU.

A meeting was held prior to the signing to discuss the strong relationship between the UAE and KSA. The joint efforts between both countries reflects the strong ties, having undertaken a series of initiatives to combat money laundry and financial terrorism alongside the international community.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Ali Faisal Ba’Alawi, Acting Head of FIU, and Brigadier General Otaibi Bin Khader Al Malki, Director of Financial Intelligence Unit of KSA. The strategic partnership will further strengthen the cooperation between the two financial intelligence agencies. This will include the development of shared network platforms which will allow for enhanced knowledge sharing between the two agencies. The data shared will support both entities in the ongoing battle against money laundering, financial terrorism.

Abu Dhabi- UAE (29 January 2020): The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Financial Investigation Department in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Financial Information Center in the Republic of Namibia, during the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units meetings in Balaclava, Mauritius, on 29/1/2020.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Ali Faisal Ba'Alawi, Acting Head of Financial Intelligence Unit, with H.E Sheikha May bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Kingdom of  Bahrain, and with Mrs. Leonie Dunn, Director of the Financial Information Center for the Republic of Namibia
respectively.

According to the MoU, respective entities identified aspects of cooperation represented in coordinating work and joint efforts and ways to enhance them in the areas of combating money laundering and financial of  terrorism, by providing a common framework for sharing information and experiences.

H.E Mubarak Rashed Al Mansoori, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE and Chairperson of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations, stated: “The MoU comes in line with the interest of the UAE in contributing effectively with the international  community to achieve common goals in the field of information exchange for the purpose of cooperation for the public interest. We also aim, through this cooperation, to establish a framework for coordination between the authorities, especially with regard to combating money laundering and terrorist financing that requires concerted efforts, and in accordance with the laws related to the terms of this memorandum.”

Mr. Ali Faisal Ba’Alawi, Acting Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit for the UAE, said: “The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Namibia is a clear indication of our keenness to combat these crimes through the cooperation of the units in assembling, developing and analyzing information related to suspected money laundering associated predicate offences or terrorist financing, and exchanging the widest range of available or obtainable information.”

Abu Dhabi (9 September 2020): In line with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s efforts to continue promoting financial stability and combating money laundering and financing terrorism, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Financial Monitoring Unit of Pakistan.

The MoU signed earlier today by H.E. Ghulam Dastgir, Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE and Mr. Ali Faisal Ba'Alawi, Acting Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit of UAE, comes in line with international efforts to exchange financial information and expertise, as well as collaborate with relevant authorities and stakeholders to combat financial crimes.

Commenting on the MoU signing, H.E. Ghulam Dastgir, Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE, underlined that cooperation in exchange of information related to money laundering played an important role in combating money laundering and related crimes. Signing the MoU reflects the strong commitment of the Government of Pakistan to enhance cooperation with the international community on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism. H.E also referred to the historical and close relations between Pakistan and the UAE and stressed on the importance of working closely to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries.

Abu Dhabi (19 January 2024): The UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (UAEFIU) hosted a delegation from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency in Abu Dhabi from 15 to 18 January 2024, as part of the UAE-UK Partnership to Tackle Illicit Financial Flows between the countries.

The Partnership, established in September 2021, represents a strategic collaboration between two prominent global financial centres. Co-chaired by His Excellency Ahmed Al Sayegh, UAE’s Minister of State and the UK’s Home Secretary who was formally Dame Priti Patel, this partnership is dedicated to sharing expertise and improving joint practices to counter financial crime. Since its launch, the Partnership has strengthened cooperation between the UAE and United Kingdom, leading directly to this new approach to operational cooperation, showcasing a strong commitment to jointly address illicit financial flows.

The visit saw participation from the UK delegation, which included representatives from the National Crime Agency (NCA), including from National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), the UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) and NCA operational teams, as well as officials from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

The visit was the inaugural meeting of the Combined Anti-Money Laundering Operational Team, where operational and tactical matters focused on high-value targets (International Controller Networks) with nexus in both countries.

In addition, discussions were also held with certain representatives from the private sector to explore a proposal for a cross-jurisdictional Public-Private Partnership information exchange.

Ali Faisal Ba’Alawi, Chief of the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit, said: “We welcome the strengthening of cooperation and the exchange of information and expertise with our regional and international partners. This collective effort is crucial in confronting money laundering, combating terrorism financing, and ensuring the protection and integrity of both local and global financial systems. The meeting sets a solid foundation for enhanced cooperation with our UK partners in all aspects of preventing financial crimes.”

Adrian Searle, Director of the UK’s National Economic Crime Centre, said: “International cooperation is key to tackling the global nature of illicit finance, and this new joint operational effort is a welcome step forward in our work with UAE counterparts. I’d like to thank colleagues in the UAEFIU for hosting this initiative and look forward to seeing the consequent impact on the criminal activity of those who are exploiting our financial systems.”

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