UAE Strengthens National Defences Against Cyber-Enabled Financial Crime Amid Digital Transformation Risks

The General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing Committee (NAMLCFTPFC), in partnership with Themis, has published a new analytical paper. Titled "Anatomy of a Digital Threat: Understanding and Addressing Cyber-Enabled Financial Crime in the UAE," it offers an in-depth look into how technological advancements are altering financial crime risks in the UAE.

The paper highlights how criminal networks are increasingly using digital tools, stressing the need for ongoing collaboration between public and private sectors to bolster national resilience. Dr. Ebrahim Al Alkeem, Director of the National Risks and Policies Department at the General Secretariat, emphasised a unified response to these emerging threats. "Given the sustained, rapid evolution of cyber-enabled financial crime, the integration of current research, such as this paper, is indispensable to the wider National Risk Assessment (NRA) efforts being executed within the UAE."

Key findings from the report reveal that cyber-enabled financial crime is on the rise globally. Annually, over US$2 trillion is laundered, while more than US$1 trillion is stolen through fraud. Criminals are increasingly utilising AI, deepfakes, crypto mixers, automation, and cross-platform social-engineering techniques to facilitate these crimes.

The UAE's fintech and virtual-asset sectors continue to grow rapidly. The national fintech market is expected to reach US$3.5 billion by 2025. Crypto inflows surpassed US$34 billion last year. While these developments boost the digital economy, they also increase exposure to risks like money laundering and terrorist financing.

AI is significantly enhancing money laundering operations by enabling greater scale and automation compared to traditional methods. AI-driven fraud is also increasing with access to pre-built "fraud-as-a-service" tools and AI-powered phishing kits leading to more automated scams in the UAE.

Predicate crimes are becoming more technologically advanced. Fraud and drug trafficking remain major offenses as criminals use encrypted communications, digital payments, virtual assets, and online marketplaces for illegal activities like fraud and narcotics trafficking.

Strengthening Economic Security

The report was unveiled during Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025 at a panel session titled Criminal Code: Mapping the Cybercrime Economy. It forms part of ongoing efforts by the UAE to enhance economic security through measures like Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 on Countering Money Laundering and investments in cybersecurity capabilities.

Dickon Johnstone, CEO of Themis, stated that as cyber-enabled financial crime accelerates, intelligence-led solutions become crucial. "Themis is committed to equipping organisations with the tools and insight required to identify hidden risks and protect their people, assets and operations."

The publication underscores ongoing reforms in the UAE aimed at strengthening AML/CFT/CPF supervision. Efforts include improving oversight of virtual-asset service providers, expanding cyber-intelligence capabilities, and fostering an integrated approach linking law enforcement with regulators and private-sector partners.

With inputs from WAM