The Regulatory Regime of the UAE (2020–2025)
A first-of-its-kind, data-driven analysis of the UAE’s evolving regulatory framework — built from five years of enforcement intelligence, policy reviews, and expert collaboration.
This report decodes how the UAE has transformed into one of the world’s most assertive regulatory environments — and what it means for financial institutions, DNFBPs, policy makers, and business leaders operating in today’s compliance-first economy.
You will uncover:
- How enforcement trends have reshaped industry culture
- The expectations shaping the next phase of regulatory supervision
- Sector-specific compliance shifts you need to be aware of
- The emerging rules of engagement for sustainable business in the UAE
- Developed with contributions from leading industry experts
This report provides a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the United Arab Emirates’ evolving regulatory landscape, with a specific focus on the national framework for Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Countering of Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF). It follows a strategic narrative that begins with the foundational build-up of the UAE’s financial intelligence and supervisory capabilities from 2020 to 2025, This period was critical in setting the stage for a sustained and high-intensity financial crime program, which has firmly established a new, zero-tolerance compliance paradigm.
The successful removal of the UAE from the FATF’s “Grey List” in February 2024 marked not an end, but an acceleration of this national strategy, aimed at solidifying the nation’s position as a global leader in the fight against financial crime.