EU's AML Overhaul Sees UAE Delisted, Algeria and Lebanon Added
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai
Brussels has moved to recalibrate its anti-money laundering framework with a significant update to its high‑risk third‑country list. The European Commission has put forward a delegated regulation that, pending a one-month scrutiny by the European Parliament and member states, would remove the United Arab Emirates from the bloc's 'high‑risk' list under the Fourth Anti‑Money Laundering Directive. Simultaneously, Algeria and Lebanon—alongside eight others—will be newly classified as jurisdictions with 'strategic deficiencies' in their national AML and counter‑terrorism financing frameworks.
The UAE, delisted in tandem with Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal and Uganda, has undergone a sequence of reforms aimed at strengthening judicial oversight, regulatory compliance, and enforcement against illicit financial flows. Its exit from the FATF's grey list in February 2024 marked the start of a broader crackdown that included the creation of specialised courts for financial crimes and a succession of heavy penalties—most recently, a ₫3.3 million fine imposed by the Central Bank on multiple currency exchange houses for compliance violations.
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In Brussels, Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque emphasised that the overhaul aligns with global standards and is based on rigorous evaluations involving FATF findings, bilateral dialogues and onsite assessments. The process reflects a broader ambition to shore up the integrity of Europe's financial system by enforcing transparency and curbing illicit financial flows.
The inclusion of Algeria, Lebanon, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal and Venezuela signals rising concern about governance standards in these jurisdictions. Algeria's entry follows high-profile anti-corruption prosecutions and its low standing in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. Lebanon's designation reflects ongoing socioeconomic volatility and persistent finance networks linked to non-state armed actors.
Monaco, already on the FATF grey list since mid‑2024, was also added to the EU's high‑risk list despite its recent enhancements to its financial intelligence unit and AML supervisor. The Commission acknowledged its progress while noting unresolved weaknesses.
The dynamics surrounding the UAE's delisting, however, are not without controversy. Previously, the European Parliament blocked the move, echoing concerns voiced by Transparency International, citing insufficient progress. Opposition is noted to persist among MEPs, particularly from Spain and its stance on Gibraltar, complicating consensus.
From an economic standpoint, the delistings carry tangible incentives. Banks and financial institutions across the EU will scale back enhanced due diligence on transactions linked to the UAE, reducing compliance burdens and speeding up capital flows. Analysts suggest this could enhance foreign investment, signalling confidence in the UAE's reputation as a global financial hub and factoring into ongoing free-trade negotiations with the EU.
Despite the acknowledged legislative reforms in the UAE, dissent persists. German Green MEP Rasmus Andresen criticised the move as premature, warning that regulatory gaps remain that could be exploited for illicit financial activities. Commission spokespersons framed the update as technical, decoupled from trade ambitions, though the timing follows the launch of EU–UAE trade negotiations in April.
On the other side, proponents speak of a 'reputational course correction' for the UAE, part of a sweeping strategy since 2022 that included legislative overhauls, enforcement operations and judicial mechanisms to reinforce compliance with FATF standards.
Should no objections arise during the legislative review, the updated list will come into force in late July. Transaction oversight requirements across EU financial institutions will adjust accordingly, with the UAE reclassified and new protocols applying to the newly added jurisdictions.
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Arabian Post
a day ago
- Arabian Post
EU's AML Overhaul Sees UAE Delisted, Algeria and Lebanon Added
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Brussels has moved to recalibrate its anti-money laundering framework with a significant update to its high‑risk third‑country list. The European Commission has put forward a delegated regulation that, pending a one-month scrutiny by the European Parliament and member states, would remove the United Arab Emirates from the bloc's 'high‑risk' list under the Fourth Anti‑Money Laundering Directive. Simultaneously, Algeria and Lebanon—alongside eight others—will be newly classified as jurisdictions with 'strategic deficiencies' in their national AML and counter‑terrorism financing frameworks. The UAE, delisted in tandem with Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal and Uganda, has undergone a sequence of reforms aimed at strengthening judicial oversight, regulatory compliance, and enforcement against illicit financial flows. Its exit from the FATF's grey list in February 2024 marked the start of a broader crackdown that included the creation of specialised courts for financial crimes and a succession of heavy penalties—most recently, a ₫3.3 million fine imposed by the Central Bank on multiple currency exchange houses for compliance violations. ADVERTISEMENT In Brussels, Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque emphasised that the overhaul aligns with global standards and is based on rigorous evaluations involving FATF findings, bilateral dialogues and onsite assessments. The process reflects a broader ambition to shore up the integrity of Europe's financial system by enforcing transparency and curbing illicit financial flows. The inclusion of Algeria, Lebanon, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal and Venezuela signals rising concern about governance standards in these jurisdictions. Algeria's entry follows high-profile anti-corruption prosecutions and its low standing in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. Lebanon's designation reflects ongoing socioeconomic volatility and persistent finance networks linked to non-state armed actors. Monaco, already on the FATF grey list since mid‑2024, was also added to the EU's high‑risk list despite its recent enhancements to its financial intelligence unit and AML supervisor. The Commission acknowledged its progress while noting unresolved weaknesses. The dynamics surrounding the UAE's delisting, however, are not without controversy. Previously, the European Parliament blocked the move, echoing concerns voiced by Transparency International, citing insufficient progress. Opposition is noted to persist among MEPs, particularly from Spain and its stance on Gibraltar, complicating consensus. From an economic standpoint, the delistings carry tangible incentives. Banks and financial institutions across the EU will scale back enhanced due diligence on transactions linked to the UAE, reducing compliance burdens and speeding up capital flows. Analysts suggest this could enhance foreign investment, signalling confidence in the UAE's reputation as a global financial hub and factoring into ongoing free-trade negotiations with the EU. Despite the acknowledged legislative reforms in the UAE, dissent persists. German Green MEP Rasmus Andresen criticised the move as premature, warning that regulatory gaps remain that could be exploited for illicit financial activities. Commission spokespersons framed the update as technical, decoupled from trade ambitions, though the timing follows the launch of EU–UAE trade negotiations in April. On the other side, proponents speak of a 'reputational course correction' for the UAE, part of a sweeping strategy since 2022 that included legislative overhauls, enforcement operations and judicial mechanisms to reinforce compliance with FATF standards. Should no objections arise during the legislative review, the updated list will come into force in late July. Transaction oversight requirements across EU financial institutions will adjust accordingly, with the UAE reclassified and new protocols applying to the newly added jurisdictions.
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Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes The European Commission has proposed removing the UAE from its list of high-risk countries for money laundering and terrorist financing, while adding Algeria and Lebanon along with eight other jurisdictions, according to a statement published by the Under the delegated regulation update, which may take effect within a month unless blocked by EU member states or the European Parliament, the UAE will be delisted alongside Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, and Uganda. In contrast, Algeria, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, and Venezuela will be classified as high-risk jurisdictions subject to enhanced monitoring . The EU's high-risk list, established under the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, identifies third-country jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in AML/CFT regimes. Inclusion prompts greater scrutiny from EU financial institutions and complicates access to funding. Significant implications for the UAE and other countries UAE: Having been added to the EU's list in March 2023, the UAE has undergone extensive reforms, including a national anti-money laundering strategy. Its removal follows its February 2024 exit from the FATF's 'grey list' and is grounded in improvements in legislative oversight, regulatory systems, and enforcement action. Read: Algeria: Persistent concerns about corruption and financial misconduct, highlighted by a 2024 Transparency International ranking of 107th globally and high-profile prosecutions — including a five-year jail term in April for a former presidential aide — have underpinned its inclusion. Lebanon: Added amid its prolonged economic and political turmoil, Lebanon's vulnerabilities include its connection to non-state armed groups. The commission based its update on FATF's grey list, bilateral dialogues, on-site reviews, and a thorough technical assessment . It reaffirmed alignment with FATF standards and reiterated the EU's resolve to protect its internal financial system through global AML/CFT cooperation. For the changes to become effective, they must undergo a one-month scrutiny period during which the European Parliament or Council can raise objections.
The National
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EU plans to remove the UAE from its 'high-risk' money-laundering list
The European Union plans to remove the UAE from its list of countries that pose a high risk for money laundering, amid growing efforts by the Emirates to boost its regulatory framework. The European Commission, the EU's main executive body, said on Tuesday that the list was updated after taking into account the work of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and in particular its list of 'Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring'. The FATF, the global body that combats money laundering and terrorism financing, removed the UAE from its "grey list" in February last year after significant reform progress. The Emirates was placed on the grey list in 2022. "As a founding member of FATF, the Commission is closely involved in monitoring the progress of the listed jurisdictions, helping them to fully implement their respective action plans agreed with FATF," the European Commission said. The commission added 10 countries to the high-risk list, including Algeria, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal and Venezuela. Along with the UAE, others taken off the list include Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal and Uganda. However, the updated list will enter into force only after it receives the no‑objection from the European Parliament and the Council within a period of one month (which can be extended for another month). The commission said it had "carefully considered the concerns expressed regarding its previous proposal and conducted a thorough technical assessment, based on specific criteria and a well‑defined methodology, incorporating information collected through the FATF, bilateral dialogues and on‑site visits to the jurisdictions in question". The UAE has made significant progress in combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism over the past few years, passing strict laws and issuing a number of regulations to clamp down on financial crime. In September last year, the UAE set out a nationwide action plan aimed at combating terrorism financing and money laundering. The 2024-27 National Strategy for Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing has 11 goals focused on risk-based compliance, effectiveness and sustainability. The enhanced framework, overseen by the Higher Committee and led by an expanded National Committee, includes the former Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing, which now serves as the General Secretariat. In August, the government also amended its laws against money laundering and the financing of terrorism and crime groups and formed a national committee on these crimes. As part of its AML/CFT reforms, the UAE is adding measures to assist with investigations, imposing sanctions in cases of non-compliance at financial institutions, and increasing the number of prosecutions to combat money laundering. The UAE Central Bank has been imposing a growing number of fines and penalties in recent months to clamp down on violators. On Tuesday, the regulator imposed varying financial sanctions on six exchange houses in the UAE, amounting to Dh12.3 million (due to "violations and failures" to comply with the AML/CFT framework and related regulations. In May, it issued one exchange house with a Dh3.5 million fine, while another was slapped with a Dh100 million levy 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 recently fined two branches of foreign banks operating in the country a total of Dh18.1 million for breaching anti-money laundering regulations.
