February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the intergovernmental body that sets global standards for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. FATF compliance means a country has implemented the organisation’s 40 Recommendations — covering legal frameworks, financial sector regulation, law enforcement, international cooperation, and transparency of beneficial ownership — to a level that satisfies mutual evaluation assessments. Countries that fail to meet standards may be placed on the FATF’s “grey list” (Increased Monitoring) or “black list” (High-Risk Jurisdictions).

UAE Context

The UAE was placed on the FATF grey list in March 2022, reflecting deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) framework. In response, the government launched an intensive National AML/CFT Strategy involving legislative reforms, enhanced enforcement, and institutional capacity building. The Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing was established to coordinate the national response. The UAE was removed from the grey list in February 2024 after demonstrating significant progress across all identified areas, including strengthening beneficial ownership transparency, increasing money laundering prosecutions, and enhancing supervision of designated non-financial businesses and professions.

Key Data

During the grey list period, the UAE implemented over 100 legislative and regulatory changes. Federal Law No. 20 of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering (amended in 2021 and 2023) was strengthened with higher penalties, expanded predicate offences, and enhanced suspicious transaction reporting obligations. The number of money laundering cases prosecuted increased significantly, and asset freezing and confiscation actions expanded. The Central Bank, Securities and Commodities Authority, and free zone regulators all enhanced supervisory frameworks.

Vision 2031 Significance

FATF compliance is essential for the UAE’s credibility as a global financial centre. Grey list placement carried reputational costs and increased compliance burdens for UAE-based institutions in correspondent banking relationships. The comprehensive reform effort demonstrated the UAE’s commitment to meeting international financial integrity standards and securing the trust of global financial partners.

  • Hawala — An informal value transfer system subject to FATF-compliant regulation.
  • Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) — A key regulator in the AML/CFT framework.
  • Beneficial Ownership — Transparency requirements strengthened during the FATF compliance programme.
  • Financial Centre — The UAE’s strategic position that FATF compliance protects.