By PAUL O’DONOGHUE, Senior Correspondent
THE UAE (United Arab Emirates) will assume the Presidency for the MENAFATF (Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force) for 2026.
It will be represented by H.E. Hamid AlZaabi, the head of the UAE’s AML secretariat.
“The UAE’s presidency comes at a defining moment for the region, as MENAFATF prepares to launch the third round of mutual evaluations,” the UAE government said.
Mr AlZaabi said: “The Middle East and North Africa play a vital role in the global financial system today.
“Our region connects continents, markets, and major trade corridors. What happens here increasingly shapes international financial stability.
He added: “As the UAE assumes the Presidency of MENAFATF, our focus is on strengthening the region’s resilience. And ensuring that our collective efforts contribute meaningfully to the global fight against financial crime.
“By working together, we can elevate standards, build stronger institutions, and deliver lasting impact for our region and the world.”
MENAFATF is a regional body established by the FATF (Financial Action Task Force), the group which sets international AML standards.
It is preparing to launch a new round of mutual evaluations under updated FATF methodology.
Suliman Al-Jabrin, Executive Secretary of MENAFATF, said “The joint priorities agreed by the United Arab Emirates for 2026 and the Kingdom of Bahrain for 2027 reflect a forward-looking vision for the Group.
“They [will] support member states as they prepare for the upcoming round of mutual evaluations.”
The UAE said its 2026 presidency will introduce:
- A regional training programme
- An E-learning platform to support national risk assessments
- A regional assessor accreditation initiative designed to expand technical expertise across member states.
“The UAE will also prioritise institutional reforms,” the government added.
It said these will “enhance the effectiveness of the Secretariat and MENAFATF’s internal governance structures”.
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