The UAE Central Bank has imposing fines worth hundreds of millions of dirhams on financial entities that defy anti-money laundering regulations. Photo: UAE Central Bank
The UAE Central Bank has imposing fines worth hundreds of millions of dirhams on financial entities that defy anti-money laundering regulations. Photo: UAE Central Bank
The UAE Central Bank has imposing fines worth hundreds of millions of dirhams on financial entities that defy anti-money laundering regulations. Photo: UAE Central Bank
The UAE Central Bank has imposing fines worth hundreds of millions of dirhams on financial entities that defy anti-money laundering regulations. Photo: UAE Central Bank

UAE Central Bank fines exchange house Dh3.5m for failure to comply with anti-money laundering law


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The UAE Central Bank imposed a fine of Dh3.5 million ($953,029) on an exchange house for failing to comply with the country's law on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT), as it continues its crackdown on financial crimes.

The Central Bank said on Monday that it assessed the findings of an examination that revealed offences by the exchange house, which was not named.

It has been cracking down on regulatory non-compliance in recent weeks.

Last week, it imposed a Dh100 million fine on an exchange house for “significant failures” in its AML/CFT framework and related regulations.

The regulator last month also fined an exchange house Dh200 million for the same offence. A Dh500,000 fine was also imposed on a branch manager, who was banned from working in any licensed financial institutions in the UAE.

The Central Bank also fined two branches of foreign banks operating in the country a total of Dh18.1 million last week for breaching anti-money laundering regulations.

“The UAE Central Bank, through its supervisory and regulatory mandates, endeavours to ensure that all exchange houses, their owners, and staff abide by the UAE laws, regulations and standards … to maintain transparency and integrity of the financial transactions and safeguard the UAE financial system,” it said.

The UAE has introduced a series of initiatives to regulate the country’s financial sector and has passed strict laws to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

The Central Bank unveiled AML/CFT guidelines in 2023 for licensed financial institutions – including banks, finance companies, exchange houses, insurance companies, agents and brokers.

The guidelines focus on the use of digital identification systems by licensed financial institutions to address customers' due diligence obligations.

Last year, the UAE also announced an action plan to boost its fight against illicit financial activity, introducing the 2024-2027 National Strategy for Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing.

The strategy has 11 goals outlining the “legislative and regulatory reforms the UAE is taking to prevent the impact of illegal activities on society”. It was developed by the General Secretariat of the National Committee using World Bank Group methodology to ensure it meets international standards.

In August, the government amended its laws against money laundering and the financing of terrorism and crime groups and formed a national committee on these crimes.

In 2021, the UAE also established the Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing, an agency to deal with money launderers, as well as organisations and people suspected of financing terrorists and organised crime.

Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

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  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

MATCH INFO

Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19

July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US

Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK

Scoreline:

Everton 4

Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', ​​​​​​​Digne 56', Walcott 64'

Manchester United 0

Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)

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Updated: June 02, 2025, 3:49 PM`