Eighth EU-UAE Structural Dialogue On Anti-Money Laundering Concludes With Strong Commitment To Combat Financial Crimes

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently hosted the 8th EU-UAE Structural Dialogue on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) in Abu Dhabi. This strategic meeting underscored the UAE and European Union's (EU) dedication to combating financial crimes and enhancing international cooperation.

Senior officials from both sides discussed key cooperation areas, such as judicial coordination, law enforcement collaboration, and financial intelligence exchange. They aimed to strengthen UAE-EU partnerships for mutual effectiveness. The dialogue reviewed ongoing collaborations, focusing on global trends, emerging risks, and challenges in fighting money laundering and terrorism financing.

Saeed Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs, co-chaired the dialogue alongside Lucie Berger, Ambassador of the European Union to the UAE. Al Hajeri emphasized the importance of advancing strategic collaboration with the EU. He highlighted the UAE's commitment to deepening cooperation by leveraging shared expertise and enhancing transparency within the global financial system.

Al Hajeri noted that this dialogue marks a significant milestone between the UAE and EU. It reflects their shared commitment to combating money laundering and terrorism financing through enhanced cooperation and strategic initiatives. "This partnership aligns with the UAE’s broader vision to contribute practical solutions to global financial challenges," he stated.

Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy-Director-General for Financial Stability at the EU, welcomed discussions with UAE authorities on sustainable cooperation against money laundering and terrorism financing. She stressed that strengthening judicial and law enforcement cooperation with the UAE is crucial for the EU. The agreement on tangible areas for further cooperation is a positive development.

Joint Efforts Against Illicit Activities

Both parties expressed interest in continuing their collaboration in technical areas of judicial and law enforcement cooperation. They agreed on enhancing exchanges and joint efforts to safeguard financial systems from illicit activities while upholding global compliance standards.

The dialogue included representatives from various UAE ministries such as Foreign Affairs, Interior, Justice, and others involved in AML/CFT efforts. EU participants included members from DG FISMA, DG JUST, DG HOME, EEAS, Eurojust, EPPO, and Europol.

The UAE remains committed to combating global financial crimes as part of its national strategy. This commitment is supported by strong leadership and rigorous enforcement measures aimed at maintaining international collaboration integrity within global financial systems.

With inputs from WAM