UAE New Law: Law becomes stricter on misappropriation and money laundering, now managers will also be jailed

The UAE government has taken very strict measures to prevent money laundering and financial crimes. Now those involved in misappropriation of money and terror funding will be cracked down on. This change is very important for those who do business in the UAE or work with financial institutions here so that the country’s economy can be kept safe.

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What new rules have been implemented in UAE to prevent money laundering?

The UAE has completely changed its laws to fight financial crimes. The government issued Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, which has replaced the old 2018 law. In this new law, separate crimes and punishments have been set to prevent proliferation financing.

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has now made real-time transaction monitoring systems mandatory for financial institutions. This means that now money transactions will be monitored immediately through technology. Also, special courts have been created in Abu Dhabi for money laundering and tax evasion cases, while federal courts are functioning in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah.

Which people and businesses will be affected by this new law?

These rules are not only for banks, but also for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs). This includes real estate agents, property developers, gold and precious stones traders and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). It is now mandatory for all of them to register on the goAML platform and report suspicious transactions.

The biggest change is that now personal criminal liability has also been fixed for managers of legal entities. If financial irregularities are found in the company, managers can also be jailed or punished. Futoon Al Jassim pointed out that preventing financial crime has now become a national priority for the UAE.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is goAML platform and who needs it?

This is the official system of the UAE through which reports of suspicious financial transactions are sent to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). It is mandatory for all real estate agents, jewelry dealers and virtual asset providers.

Have the penalties been reduced in the new law?

Yes, from 14 April 2026 the UAE has changed its tax penalty regime, reducing the penalty amount and introducing a more balanced structure.