UAE Delegation Visits France to Strengthen Cooperation on Combatting Financial Crimes
Paris, The Gulf Observer: A high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates, led by the General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations Committee (NAMLCFTC), visited Paris to enhance cooperation between the UAE and France in addressing financial and organised crimes, as well as to strengthen international economic security.
The mission provided an opportunity to present the UAE’s National Strategy 2024–2027 in combating financial crimes, underscoring the UAE’s proactive stance in bolstering international partnerships and exchanging expertise to address global financial crime. This visit further exemplifies the UAE’s commitment to reinforcing communication channels to mitigate financial crimes in alignment with global Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) standards.
Hamid Saif AlZaabi, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat and Vice Chairman of NAMLCFTC, emphasised the critical role of international collaboration in tackling financial crime. “France is one of the UAE’s largest trade partners, and the UAE is France’s primary trade partner in the region. This strong partnership necessitates joint efforts to address illicit financial flows. This visit reflects our commitment to international cooperation and sharing expertise in the fight against financial crime,” he stated.
Discussions during the visit focused on enhancing partnerships with various French entities, including the Ministries of Treasury, Justice, and Interior, as well as the Financial Intelligence Unit. The delegation also explored priority issues, such as combatting global organised crime, drug trafficking, and mitigating shared risks between the two nations.
Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to the French Republic, praised the longstanding and robust bilateral relations between the two countries. “This visit marks a significant milestone in advancing the strategic partnership between the UAE and France, based on our shared commitment to global economic security and the fight against international financial crime,” he said. Al Raqbani further highlighted the UAE’s comprehensive approach to tackling financial crimes and its growing role in the global fight against illicit financial activities.
The UAE delegation included representatives from the UAE Ministry of Interior, Federal Public Prosecution, Central Bank, Financial Intelligence Unit, and Dubai’s Center for Economic Security. In recent months, the UAE and France have strengthened their cooperation, with a series of meetings and initiatives aimed at enhancing bilateral legal and judicial collaboration.
In November 2024, UAE Minister of Justice Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi met Jean-François Bohnert, Head of the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, to explore enhanced cooperation in legal and judicial matters. Additionally, in February 2024, the UAE and France’s Financial Intelligence Units signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the exchange of financial data, marking a significant step in both nations’ ongoing efforts to combat financial crimes and promote financial transparency.
The visit underscored the UAE’s active role on the global stage in addressing financial crime while fostering an economic environment conducive to growth and foreign investment, reinforced by its commitment to international AML/CFT standards.
