United Arab Emirates

HighARE · AE · Middle East

Documented weaknesses. Expect enhanced due diligence to be needed.

Index positionsPin shows where it sits on each scale
Money laundering6.11Basel AML Index, 0 to 10, ranked 40 of 177
Corruption69CPI, 0 to 100, higher is cleaner, ranked 21 of 182
Terrorism1.178Global Terrorism Index, 0 to 10
Financial secrecy#10Tax Justice FSI, rank
Risk by sectorOne country, six different businesses
Trade and import/exportSevere

naming in G7 advisories as a re-export corridor, dual-use goods routed onward

Company formationSevere

financial secrecy supplied at scale, no fully public ownership register

Crypto and VASPSevere

high adoption with supervision still maturing

Real estateSevere

common cash purchases and non-resident ownership

Payments and PSPHigh

baseline jurisdiction risk

Charity and NGOHigh

a transit point for aid bound for conflict regions

ClearCautionHighSevere
Analyst view

The Basel AML Index places the United Arab Emirates 40th riskiest of 177 at 6.11, against a global average of 5.28. The United Arab Emirates is rated High at base, which is the view a payment services provider would take.

The rating is not the same for every business. For trade and import/export it reads Severe, because of naming in G7 advisories as a re-export corridor. For payments it reads High, because of baseline jurisdiction risk. One number cannot carry both, which is why the sector view exists.

The practical question is whether the underlying trade is what it claims to be. Goods and payments routed onward are the recurring pattern, so corroborate the end destination rather than the immediate counterparty.

Structural detail
Common patterns
cross-border layeringcash-intensive sectorstrust and foundation structurestrade-based money launderingsanctions circumventionvirtual asset transfers
Sanctions position
The country itself is not sanctioned. Individual registered entities are designated by the US, UK and EU with increasing frequency, largely in trade and logistics.
Can you find the owner?
Supplies financial secrecy at scale. Ownership is disclosed to authorities and to obliged entities, but there is no fully public register a counterparty can search.
Sources
  1. Basel AML Index 2025, 6.11, ranked 40 of 177.
  2. Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, Score 69, ranked 21 of 182.
  3. Global Terrorism Index 2026, Score 1.178.
  4. Financial Secrecy Index 2026, Ranked 10 worldwide.
Methodology v1.0, published 2026-08-19FATF status as at 19 June 2026Ratings are research-grade intelligence, not regulated advice.