The European Union and the United Arab Emirates concluded the Ninth EU-UAE Structural Dialogue on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) on 9 July 2026, held virtually. The dialogue reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the two sides in combating financial crime, with the EU flagging the need to tackle sanctions circumvention, notably in the current geopolitical context in the Middle East. Senior representatives reviewed cooperation in judicial matters, law enforcement collaboration, and financial intelligence exchange, and agreed to advance technical deliverables to strengthen coordination and communication between relevant authorities.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Omran Sharaf, UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology Affairs, and Rosamaria Gili, Deputy Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the European External Action Service (EEAS). Sharaf stated that the ninth edition reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding the global financial system and that reaching this edition demonstrates trust and sustained engagement. The EU side emphasised that in the current geopolitical environment, EU and UAE support for the international rules-based order is as important as ever, and that the UAE remains a key security partner in AML/CFT. The EU expressed trust that advancements made by the UAE will be visible in its upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluation due in February 2027.
Participants from the UAE included Mohamed Al Sahlawi, ambassador to the EU; Judge Abdulrahman Murad Al Blooshi, Assistant Undersecretary for International Cooperation and Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice; Brigadier General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ahmed, Director General of the Federal Criminal Police; and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Dubai Economic Security Council, the National AML/CFT Committee, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and the UAE Executive Office for Control and Non-Proliferation. EU institutions represented were the European Commission's Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA), the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST), the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), the EEAS including the EU Delegation to the UAE, and Europol.
The dialogue covered global trends, emerging risks, and evolving challenges in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Both sides underlined that improving judicial and law enforcement cooperation is a key factor for progress, noting that the dialogue has proven fruitful in this regard. The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue advancing a set of technical and tangible deliverables aimed at further strengthening cooperation, coordination, and communication.
The dialogue reinforces the EU-UAE partnership in financial crime prevention, benefiting EU and UAE regulatory and law enforcement bodies through enhanced intelligence sharing and judicial cooperation. Financial institutions in both jurisdictions may face increased compliance expectations as technical deliverables are implemented, potentially raising operational costs but also reducing risks of illicit finance. The FATF evaluation of the UAE in February 2027 will be closely watched; positive outcomes could enhance the UAE's international standing, while shortcomings could lead to increased scrutiny. The EU's emphasis on sanctions circumvention signals a tightening of enforcement, which may affect businesses operating across EU-UAE trade routes, particularly in sectors exposed to sanctioned jurisdictions.