When you walk into a bank, send money to family overseas, invest in property, or donate to a charity, you trust that your money is safe and that the financial system around you is secure. That trust isn’t accidental – it’s built on robust laws that protect honest citizens and legitimate businesses while keeping criminals out.

This month, the UAE took a major step in strengthening that protection with Federal Decree Law No 10 of 2025 on tackling money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.

For residents and businesses in the UAE, this law matters because it directly affects economic security, job stability and quality of life. Financial crime isn’t a victimless offence happening in distant boardrooms. It drives up costs for honest businesses, threatens jobs, distorts property prices and can damage the reputation of the very economy that provides opportunities for millions of people who call the UAE home.

The new law brings the UAE’s legal framework fully in line with the latest standards set by the Financial Action Task Force – or FATF – the international watchdog for financial crime. In June 2023, the UAE was rated compliant or largely compliant with 39 out of 40 FATF recommendations, among the highest scores globally. This new legislation builds on that success, translating international best practices into national law that reflects the unique character of our economy and socie