UAE And France Collaborate In Workshop To Advance Criminal Asset Confiscation Strategies

The UAE's National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations (NAMLCFTC) recently hosted a technical workshop in Abu Dhabi. This event, held from 14th to 15th May, was organised in collaboration with France’s Agency for the Management and Recovery of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AGRASC). The workshop aimed to enhance national procedures by sharing expertise on criminal asset confiscation.

Experts from both the UAE and France participated, focusing on improving local systems to align with international best practices. The sessions aimed to build institutional knowledge and operational models that strengthen national capabilities in tracing, freezing, and confiscating assets. This initiative is part of a strategic partnership between the two countries in financial intelligence and law enforcement.

In his opening remarks, Hamid Al Zaabi, Secretary-General and Vice Chair of NAMLCFTC, welcomed participants and expressed gratitude to organisers. He stated, "Asset recovery achieves two critical strategic impacts: it deprives criminals of their illicit gains, and it redirects those resources towards institutions and systems that safeguard society and reinforce the state's resilience against financial threats."

Al Zaabi highlighted that in 2024, the UAE successfully confiscated criminal assets worth AED 5.2 billion. This amount is more than double what was recovered the previous year, showcasing the growing effectiveness of their anti-financial crime system. He emphasised that investing in training and developing national capacities are key pillars of the UAE’s AML/CFT/CPF framework.

Vanessa Perree, Director of AGRASC, praised the UAE’s proactive approach. She remarked, "France is proud to partner with the UAE in supporting its efforts to build a robust infrastructure for asset confiscation and recovery. Asset recovery is not merely a technical measure—it is a core element for combatting high-level international targets especially in drug trafficking."

This workshop aligns with the strategic priorities set by Mexico's presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which emphasises asset recovery as crucial in global efforts against financial crime. The agenda included four specialised sessions covering legal frameworks and mechanisms for seizing complex assets like bank accounts, digital currencies, and real estate.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

The initiative builds on outcomes from official UAE delegation visits to Paris earlier this year. These visits have strengthened bilateral cooperation channels between the two nations. The coordination reflects the UAE’s commitment to international standards on asset recovery as outlined in its National Risk Assessment.

This workshop represents another milestone toward building a smart national response rooted in best practices for combating financial crime. It underscores ongoing efforts to support international collaboration while reinforcing shared responsibility principles in countering organised crime.

With inputs from WAM