CBUAE fines a foreign bank branch AED 20 million and its head of compliance AED 300,000 for AML/CFT failures

CBUAE imposed a AED 20 million financial sanction on an unnamed foreign bank branch operating in the UAE for 'significant, repeated failures' in its AML/CFT framework, and separately fined the branch's head of compliance AED 300,000 for failing to fulfil his AML oversight responsibilities. This signals CBUAE's continued individual-accountability enforcement approach for MLRO/compliance officers, not just institutions.

What firms should do

Informational — illustrates CBUAE's enforcement priorities on AML governance and individual compliance-officer accountability

Regulator: Central Bank of the UAE
Type: Enforcement Notice
Status: Final/In Force
Published: 24 Jun 2026
Topic: AML/CFT
Impact: Medium

Read it on the regulator's website

Found automatically on the regulator's website and summarised by AI by Arakan Lexara. Not legal advice; check the official source before relying on it.

Arakan Lexara Weekly

Get the week's UAE regulatory changes every Monday.

Key developments, what firms are asked to do and the deadlines ahead. Free.

More from the Central Bank of the UAE

16 Apr 2026

Guidance

Medium impact

CBUAE Updates AML/CFT/CPF Guidance for Licensed Financial Institutions (Proliferation Finance, TBML, Correspondent Banking and CDD/KYC guidance, plus two best-practice manuals)

CBUAE released an updated package of four AML/CFT/CPF guidance documents (proliferation financing, trade-based money laundering/transshipment, correspondent banking, and customer due diligence/KYC) together with two best-practice manuals on risk-based-approach methodology and role-based staff training, described by the Governor as aligning UAE supervision with FATF and international standards. Licensed institutions should refresh AML/CFT policies, CDD procedures and training programs to reflect the updated guidance.

14 Apr 2026GuidanceMedium impact

CBUAE FAQs/Guidance on Article 62 — Carrying on Licensed Financial Activities through Emerging Technologies

CBUAE published FAQ-format guidance clarifying that Article 62 of Federal Decree-Law No. 6/2025 does not create new categories of regulated financial activity but ensures technology-neutral supervision across delivery channels, including Web3/decentralized systems, while confirming pure technology/infrastructure service providers are not directly regulated unless they perform licensed financial activities themselves. Entities have until 16 September 2026 (the law's one-year transition deadline) to adjust their activities/status.

13 Mar 2026New Regulation/StandardHigh impact

Remuneration Regulation for Banks and Insurance Companies

Aligned with Basel Committee and FSB compensation principles, this regulation requires banks, insurers, reinsurers and UAE branches of foreign institutions to identify Material Risk Takers, defer 3-5 years of variable pay for them, embed malus/clawback provisions in contracts, and have the Board approve remuneration policy annually via a dedicated Remuneration Committee. Institutions face a gap-analysis deadline of 11 October 2026 and full compliance by 14 July 2027.

5 Mar 2026New Regulation/StandardMedium impact

Insurance Company Licensing Regulation

A revised licensing regulation for insurance companies operating in the UAE, reflecting the consolidated supervisory framework of Federal Decree-Law No. 6/2025 and updating licensing categories, capital and fit-and-proper requirements for insurers. Publication date is a best-sourced estimate: the CBUAE Rulebook confirms circular number C 4/2026 and an effective date of 14 August 2026, but the exact issuance date was not independently verified; based on sequential circular numbering relative to C3 (19 Feb 2026) and C5 (13 Mar 2026), publication likely occurred in late February/early March 2026.