Menafatf Presidency 2026: UAE To Lead Regional AML/CFT Efforts And Cooperation

The United Arab Emirates will lead the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force in 2026, signalling a major phase for regional financial crime oversight. MENAFATF confirmed that Hamid Saif AlZaabi will represent the UAE presidency as the organisation prepares for intensive assessment work.

The UAE term is part of a planned two-year sequence with the Kingdom of Bahrain, which will chair MENAFATF in 2027. This shared approach is designed to support long-term capacity building across members as they gear up for the next evaluation cycle.

MENAFATF stated that the UAE and Bahrain have jointly set priorities for 2026 and 2027. According to Executive Secretary Suliman Al-Jabrin, these priorities establish continuity, strengthen governance, and support member states ahead of the coming mutual evaluations, while reinforcing MENAFATF’s position in the global AML/CFT network.

Under the MENAFATF UAE presidency, a central objective will be to upgrade internal governance and organisational structures. The programme aims to improve the efficiency of MENAFATF and its Secretariat, while also developing the Secretariat’s resources to better support member jurisdictions’ technical and operational needs.

MENAFATF is preparing to start its third round of mutual evaluations, which will follow the Financial Action Task Force fifth-round methodology. The UAE presidency plans to raise regional preparedness for these reviews, helping members strengthen AML/CFT systems and align more closely with updated international benchmarks.

Another focus of the MENAFATF UAE presidency will be stronger external partnerships. MENAFATF plans broader engagement with FATF, regional organisations, and international observers. Dedicated workstreams will address virtual assets, fintech, artificial intelligence, beneficial ownership transparency, and asset recovery cooperation, reflecting global priorities on evolving financial crime risks.

Regional impact and global role of MENAFATF UAE presidency

MENAFATF members have welcomed the UAE’s 2026 agenda, viewing it as a way to deepen regional coordination and improve national capabilities. The programme seeks to connect regional priorities with global standards and newer risk areas, so Middle East and North Africa responses to money laundering and related threats remain current.

"It is a great honour to take on this leadership role. 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, and what happens here increasingly shapes international financial stability," said Hamid Saif AlZaabi, Current President of MENAFATF.

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."

The Group currently includes 21 member states spanning the Middle East and North Africa, representing a combined GDP estimated above US$3 trillion. This scale highlights MENAFATF’s importance for international financial stability, particularly in combatting money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing across a highly connected economic corridor.

With inputs from WAM