Middle East
Explore AML/CFT regulation, enforcement and financial crime developments across the Middle East. Coverage includes regulatory reforms, financial centre initiatives, sanctions compliance, virtual assets and evolving obligations for financial and professional service providers.
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UAE Central Bank Restricts Bank Melli Iran Branches Over AML/CFT/CPF Compliance Violations
The Central Bank of the UAE has prohibited Bank Melli Iran branches in the UAE from conducting financial transactions to and from Iran after examinations…
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UAE and Sweden Arrest Seven in SEK70 Million Money Laundering Investigation
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Sweden have arrested seven people in a coordinated operation targeting an alleged international money laundering network that investigators…
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U.S. Sanctions Iranian Crypto Exchange BitBank Over Sanctions-Evasion Network
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Iranian digital asset exchange BitBank on September 17, 2026, targeting what Treasury…
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Jordan Steps Up Preparations for 2027–2029 MENAFATF Mutual Evaluation
Jordan has begun intensified preparations for its 2027–2029 MENAFATF mutual evaluation, with authorities highlighting legislative reform, risk-based supervision, beneficial ownership transparency and a national risk…
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UAE SME Banking Rules Take Effect With AML Due Diligence Override
The UAE’s new SME Customer Protection Regulation takes effect on 13 September 2026, linking faster low-risk account opening with explicit AML/CFT due diligence and financial…
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OFAC Targets Hizballah and Kata’ib Hizballah Networks Under Operation Economic Outcast
The U.S. Department of the Treasury on September 10, 2026 announced a new round of sanctions targeting individuals and entities that it says support Kata’ib…
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INTERPOL MENA Police Chiefs Meeting Targets Money Laundering, Illicit Finance and Transnational Crime
Police chiefs from across the Middle East and North Africa met in Cairo on 1–2 September 2026 for an INTERPOL regional meeting focused on transnational…
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XTransfer Secures In-Principle Approval for UAE Retail Payment Services Licence
XTransfer announced on 3 September 2026 that it has received in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE for a Retail Payment Services Licence,…
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U.S. Treasury Plans Weekly Secondary Sanctions on Iran-Linked Banks, Bessent Says
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States expects to impose new secondary sanctions on Iran-linked financial institutions on a weekly basis as Washington…
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UAE Gives Preliminary Approval for NBE to Acquire Banque Misr UAE Operations Amid FinCEN Scrutiny
Last updated: 23 September 2026. The Central Bank of the UAE has given preliminary approval for National Bank of Egypt (NBE) to acquire Banque Misr’s…
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