Anti-Money Laundering (AML) in the UAE
Money laundering and terrorism financing threaten the security and integrity of the financial system. The UAE's AML/CFT laws — primarily Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018 and Cabinet Decision No. (10) of 2019 — require regulated entities to establish a comprehensive AML/CFT program, including KYC policy, screening, risk profiling, governance, and Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) filing.
goAML Registration
goAML is the software platform used by the UAE's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Regulated entities — including Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) — must register on the goAML portal and report suspicious activity through it. We manage your goAML registration and ongoing reporting obligations end-to-end.
Economic Substance Regulations (ESR)
Businesses conducting Relevant Activities in the UAE must demonstrate adequate economic substance — meeting the Economic Substance Test and filing annual ESR notifications and reports with the relevant regulatory authority. We assess your applicability, prepare filings, and ensure deadlines are met to avoid penalties.
Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO)
UAE companies are required to identify and maintain a register of their Ultimate Beneficial Owners and file this information with the relevant licensing authority. We prepare and maintain your UBO register in line with Cabinet Decision requirements, keeping your business audit-ready at all times.
Our Compliance Services
- AML Policy & Procedure Development
- goAML Registration & STR/SAR Filing
- AML Risk Assessment & KYC Screening
- Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) Notification & Reporting
- Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) Register & Filing
- AML Compliance Officer Support