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Eurojust and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Working Arrangement aimed at strengthening judicial cooperation and information exchange in investigations involving serious cross-border crime, including money laundering, fraud, cybercrime and drug trafficking. The arrangement was signed on September 28, 2026, in Abu Dhabi by Eurojust President Michael Schmid and UAE Minister of Justice Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi during the United Nations Congress on Crime Preventi

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has prohibited all branches of Bank Melli Iran operating in the UAE from conducting financial transactions to and from Iran following regulatory examinations that identified violations of UAE laws, regulations and supervisory requirements. The measure was announced on 23 September 2026 by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). The prohibition applies specifically to financial transactions between the UAE branches of Bank Melli Iran a

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Sweden have arrested seven people in a coordinated investigation into an international money laundering network that allegedly handled approximately 70 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to about AED 26.5 million, over a period of ten months. The suspected leader of the network, a Swedish national, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates after fleeing Sweden. He was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice in connection with suspected

Euro Games Technology (EGT) has secured a Gaming-Related Vendor Licence from the United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), allowing the Bulgarian gaming technology supplier to provide its land-based gaming products and solutions to licensed operators in the country. The approval represents an important step for EGT as it expands into the emerging UAE commercial gaming market and adds another regulated jurisdiction to its international portf

The United Arab Emirates has launched a special and urgent examination of Banque Misr's branches operating in the country after US authorities raised concerns over transactions allegedly connected to Iranian shadow-banking networks. The UAE Central Bank announced that it would conduct a detailed forensic review of the bank's activities following a proposal by the US Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to restrict Banque Misr UAE's access to the US financial system

The US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has proposed cutting Banque Misr's UAE operations off from the US correspondent banking system after identifying approximately $1.8 billion in transactions involving 103 companies that US authorities believe may form part of Iranian shadow-banking networks. The proposed action, announced on 28 August 2026, represents a major escalation in US efforts to restrict Iran's access to the international financial system. It targets the UAE

Two employees of cryptocurrency exchange Binance were detained by authorities in the United Arab Emirates in recent weeks as part of inquiries into possible financial crimes connected to the movement of funds through the platform. The employees were reportedly stopped at airports in the UAE during separate incidents. The circumstances surrounding the detentions initially remained unclear, including the precise nature of the financial activity being examined by authorities. Bi

The United Arab Emirates is strengthening coordination between its gaming and financial regulators as the country continues to build its emerging commercial gaming industry. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the UAE's federal gaming regulator, has entered into a formal memorandum of understanding with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), establishing a framework for regulatory cooperation, information

A network of companies based in the United Arab Emirates has been identified as playing a central role in financial structures used to move money connected to Iran, highlighting the continuing challenges posed by sophisticated shadow banking and sanctions-evasion arrangements. The networks have been used to facilitate payments linked to Iranian oil and other commercial activities while attempting to conceal the origin and destination of the funds. The structures identified by

The United Arab Emirates has reaffirmed its commitment to combating financial crime through a strengthened national enforcement framework, as senior government officials convened for the twenty-third meeting of the Higher Committee responsible for overseeing the National Strategy on Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism, and Countering Proliferation Financing. The session, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Ministe

On April 16, 2026, CBUAE, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, introduced an updated regulatory package designed to reinforce the integrity of the national financial system against illicit activity. The comprehensive guidance supports the National Strategy for 2024 to 2027 and aligns the UAE more closely with international standards established by the Financial Action Task Force. Under the updated framework, licensed financial institutions and registered hawala provi

Two major American gaming operators, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International, are closely tracking developments in the Middle East after Iranian attacks across the region raised concerns about safety and stability in the United Arab Emirates, where both companies are investing billions of dollars in new resort developments. Wynn Resorts is currently constructing a massive $5.1 billion casino resort on an island in Ras Al Khaimah, while MGM Resorts International is building

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has obtained official authorization to operate as a gaming-related vendor in the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant milestone for the company’s international expansion. The approval, granted by the General Commercial Gaming Authority (GCGRA), permits ARC to provide its racing-focused solutions to operators who are themselves licensed by the UAE regulator, opening the door for the company to establish a presence in a newly regulated market.

The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) confirmed on January 5, 2026, that the United Arab Emirates has formally assumed the presidency of the organization for the 2026 term. Represented by Hamid Saif AlZaabi, the UAE steps into the leadership role at a decisive moment, as the region prepares for the third cycle of mutual evaluations and the full application of the Financial Action Task Force’s fifth round methodology. This transition signals a

The United Arab Emirates has taken a historic step by permitting legal online betting through licensed platforms, signaling a significant shift in the nation’s long-standing stance on gambling. For the first time, residents and visitors can place real-money bets online within a federal regulatory framework designed to control access and protect consumers. At the center of this change is Play971, the UAE’s first approved internet gaming and sports betting website. The platform