The Ministry of Economy has stepped up anti-money-laundering (AML) enforcement across designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs)—including real-estate brokers, precious-metals dealers and virtual-asset service providers—levying more than AED 130 million in fines since late 2022. A policy note released on 19 February 2026 underscores that inspections will intensify in the run-up to the UAE’s next Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mutual evaluation later this year.
The clamp-down is highly relevant to mobility and relocation stakeholders because property purchases are a common pathway to residency, and corporate-service providers often handle visa sponsorship for expatriates. Brokers must now conduct enhanced due-diligence on politically exposed persons, high-risk jurisdictions and complex ownership structures, submitting suspicious-transaction reports through the goAML portal.
Companies and individual investors looking to secure UAE residence permits amid these stricter controls can streamline the process by partnering with a specialist such as VisaHQ. The platform monitors real-time regulatory changes and assembles all required documentation—whether for Golden Visas, employment passes or short-term entry permits—reducing the risk of application errors that could trigger AML red flags. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
![UAE tightens AML regime for real-estate, metals and crypto firms ahead of FATF review]()
Virtual-asset businesses brought inside the AML perimeter by an October 2025 law must appoint compliance officers, implement «travel-rule» data transfers and screen all clients against UN and UAE sanctions lists. Non-compliance risks licence suspension or criminal liability, adding an extra layer of risk management for firms relocating staff to the Emirates’ burgeoning crypto and commodities hubs.
For global employers, the message is clear: choose relocation partners—real-estate agents, audit firms, company-formation agents—that can demonstrate robust AML frameworks. Failure by a service provider to meet new standards could delay property transactions linked to Golden Visas or trigger account freezes that complicate payroll and expense reimbursements for inbound assignees.
The Ministry says further guidance notes will be published in March, and companies should expect surprise audits. Multinationals may wish to schedule internal AML refreshers for UAE-based finance and HR staff to ensure end-to-end compliance in relocation workflows.
The clamp-down is highly relevant to mobility and relocation stakeholders because property purchases are a common pathway to residency, and corporate-service providers often handle visa sponsorship for expatriates. Brokers must now conduct enhanced due-diligence on politically exposed persons, high-risk jurisdictions and complex ownership structures, submitting suspicious-transaction reports through the goAML portal.
Companies and individual investors looking to secure UAE residence permits amid these stricter controls can streamline the process by partnering with a specialist such as VisaHQ. The platform monitors real-time regulatory changes and assembles all required documentation—whether for Golden Visas, employment passes or short-term entry permits—reducing the risk of application errors that could trigger AML red flags. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
Virtual-asset businesses brought inside the AML perimeter by an October 2025 law must appoint compliance officers, implement «travel-rule» data transfers and screen all clients against UN and UAE sanctions lists. Non-compliance risks licence suspension or criminal liability, adding an extra layer of risk management for firms relocating staff to the Emirates’ burgeoning crypto and commodities hubs.
For global employers, the message is clear: choose relocation partners—real-estate agents, audit firms, company-formation agents—that can demonstrate robust AML frameworks. Failure by a service provider to meet new standards could delay property transactions linked to Golden Visas or trigger account freezes that complicate payroll and expense reimbursements for inbound assignees.
The Ministry says further guidance notes will be published in March, and companies should expect surprise audits. Multinationals may wish to schedule internal AML refreshers for UAE-based finance and HR staff to ensure end-to-end compliance in relocation workflows.
