EU and UAE Deepen Alliance Against Financial Crime at 8th Structural Dialogue in Abu Dhabi

In a landmark move to strengthen international cooperation against illicit finance, the European Union and the United Arab Emirates convened the 8th EU-UAE Structural Dialogue on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) on May 26, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. This high-level diplomatic engagement signaled an intensifying bilateral commitment to forging robust, transparent, and cooperative frameworks aimed at protecting the integrity of the global financial system.

The dialogue was co-chaired by His Excellency Saeed Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs of the UAE, and Her Excellency Lucie Berger, Ambassador of the EU to the UAE. Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy Director-General for Financial Stability at the European Commission, also took part in the discussions. Delegations from both sides were composed of representatives from pivotal institutions, including the UAE Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Justice, alongside EU bodies such as DG FISMA, DG JUST, DG HOME, the European External Action Service (EEAS), Eurojust, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), and Europol.

The wide-ranging agenda focused on enhancing judicial coordination, boosting law enforcement collaboration, and ensuring the timely exchange of financial intelligence—areas deemed crucial to preventing cross-border financial crimes, particularly those involving the financing of terrorism and complex money laundering operations. Speaking during the meeting, Al Hajeri emphasized, “Shared expertise and a collective approach are vital in addressing evolving financial crime tactics.”

Demonstrating the commitment to move beyond political rhetoric, the dialogue spotlighted several concrete action points designed to fortify cooperation. Chief among these was a consensus to improve mutual legal assistance frameworks, with the goal of streamlining extradition processes and evidence-sharing mechanisms between the EU and the UAE. A renewed emphasis was placed on developing more direct and efficient communication channels between the financial intelligence units (FIUs) of both regions to facilitate real-time exchanges of suspicious transaction reports (STRs) and newly emerging threat typologies.

A key proposal emerging from the discussions was the establishment of technical taskforces that will include compliance experts, prosecutors, and investigators from both jurisdictions. These taskforces will be tasked with developing joint threat assessments and typologies tailored to vulnerabilities common to both regions. Particular attention will be paid to complex risks such as trade-based money laundering, misuse of virtual assets, and the growing role of professional enablers in facilitating financial crime through legal structures.

The dialogue also acknowledged the UAE’s continued efforts to align its systems with the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), particularly in relation to Recommendation 37 on Mutual Legal Assistance and Recommendation 40 on International Cooperation. EU representatives praised the UAE’s progress in adopting FATF-compliant measures and noted its increasing cooperation with European law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies.

Building on momentum from previous meetings, this year’s dialogue placed special focus on institutionalizing permanent working relationships across key agencies. Both parties recognized the increasing complexity of financial crime, driven in part by technological innovations such as decentralized finance, the exploitation of shell companies, and multi-jurisdictional fraud schemes. As part of their response, the EU and UAE are now exploring the co-development of typology reports and red flag indicators designed to help identify and mitigate dual-use financial risks.

Another major area of consensus was the expansion of cross-border public-private partnerships (PPPs). Institutions like Europol and the UAE Central Bank’s FIU are being urged to facilitate collaborative platforms involving commercial banks, fintech providers, and cryptocurrency exchanges. The objective is to standardize suspicious activity monitoring protocols, enhance onboarding procedures, and establish reliable communication channels for issuing rapid alerts when threats are detected.

To ensure that enforcement remains ahead of evolving tactics, the dialogue also addressed the need for sustained capacity building. EU agencies offered specialized training on asset tracing, crypto forensics, and techniques to detect sanctions evasion. In a reciprocal effort, UAE authorities pledged to host regional AML/CFT forums to encourage peer learning, elevate professional standards, and promote regional leadership in financial crime prevention.

In closing, the 8th EU-UAE Structural Dialogue has emerged as far more than a ceremonial diplomatic exercise; it is now a cornerstone of strategic cooperation in the global fight against financial crime. By reaffirming their intent and agreeing on actionable measures, both the EU and UAE are shaping what could become a model for international AML/CFT collaboration. As the landscape of illicit finance becomes more intricate and borderless, this partnership serves as a blueprint for others to follow—blending political will, regulatory coherence, and operational synergy to build a safer and more secure global financial system.

By fLEXI tEAM