Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Services in Dubai

Most businesses don’t fail AML checks because they’re careless; they fail because no one explained the rules in a language they understand. At Vista Financials Accounting and Taxation, we turn AML compliance into something practical, not painful.
No legal jargon.
No confusion.
Just clear steps designed for real businesses. While others give templates, we study your operations, your risk areas, and your workflow. That’s why companies trust us before facing any AML compliance audit. In a world where “anti-money laundering UAE” rules keep changing, you deserve a partner who keeps you one step ahead, not one step behind. Let’s make compliance effortless, not stressful.

Book your AML guidance today.

Why AML Non-Compliance Is Serious For Your Business

Ignoring UAE anti-money laundering laws and regulations may seem harmless at first, but the damage can escalate quickly. Under anti-money laundering UAE regulations, penalties range from AED 50,000 to AED 5 million. Your trade license can be suspended, your bank accounts frozen, and your business reputation can take a hit that’s hard to recover from.

This is why smart businesses choose experts. Vista Accounting & Taxation keeps you protected, compliant, and fully audit-ready before issues become consequences.

What is Anti-Money Laundering in the UAE?

Money laundering is defined as any financial or banking transaction aimed at concealing or changing the source of illegally obtained funds, by passing it through the financial and banking system in order to make it appear as originating from legitimate sources, and then re-pumping and investing it illegally.

AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance services in the UAE are specialised solutions that help businesses identify, prevent, and report suspicious financial activities. These services protect companies from risks associated with money laundering, terrorist financing, and other unlawful financial practices, while ensuring full compliance with UAE regulations.

In the UAE, Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) are legally required to follow these rules, often without realising it.

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Our Comprehensive AML Compliance Services in Dubai

We help DNFBPs across the UAE meet all AML/CFT requirements with ease, whether you’re setting up your compliance framework for the first time or strengthening an existing one. Our experts ensure you remain compliant, protected, and fully audit-ready at all times.

goAML Registration

We handle your FIU registration so your business is officially listed and prepared for ongoing reporting.

Custom AML Policies

Tailored AML policies based on your business model, industry, and risk profile — always aligned with UAE regulations.

Periodic AML/CFT Reports

We prepare your periodic AML compliance reports, helping you stay compliant without stress.

Compliance Framework Setup

Guidance on risk assessments, questionnaires, transaction checks, and KYC to build a strong, risk-based compliance approach.

Risk Assessments & KYC

Guidance on risk assessments, questionnaires, transaction checks, and KYC to build a strong, risk-based compliance approach.

Inspection Support

If you’re facing an inspection, we prepare your documents, your team, and your responses so you pass with confidence.

Sanctions Screening

We set up tools and workflows to identify and block sanctioned individuals or entities before they become a risk.

Regulatory Reporting

Accurate and timely filing of goAML and TFS reports so you avoid penalties, errors, or compliance breaches.

AML Audit Assistance

Always be audit-ready. We ensure your policies, documents, and records meet every AML UAE requirement.

How Can AML Compliance Protect Your Business

Understanding how AML compliance protects your business is the first step to staying secure, compliant, and future-ready.

Prevent Costly Penalties

Effective AML compliance helps your business avoid heavy fines, regulatory actions, and financial losses, keeping you fully aligned with anti-money laundering UAE requirements.

Strengthen Internal Controls

We close compliance gaps, enhance monitoring systems, and reduce operational risks through strong, structured internal controls that keep your business secure and audit-ready.

Protect Business Reputation

Maintain trust with clients and regulators by ensuring transparent processes, proper reporting, and complete AML readiness, reducing warnings, scrutiny, and reputational damage.

Who Is Considered a DNFBP in the UAE?

Under Federal Decree Law No. 20 of 2018 and Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2019, DNFBPs (Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions) are businesses that deal with high-value transactions, client funds, or complex structures. Because these sectors can be misused for money laundering, they must follow strict AML/CFT rules.
Below is a clearer breakdown with brief explanations for each category.

Real Estate Brokers & Agents

Involved in buying, selling, or leasing residential and commercial properties.
Real estate is a common channel for large cash transactions.
Because of high deal values, brokers must verify client identity and source of funds.

Auditors & Accountants

Professionals handling financial statements, audits, bookkeeping, or client financial records.
They can easily detect unusual cash movements or suspicious transactions.
Since they see the full financial picture, they play a key role in identifying risks.

Corporate Service Providers

Companies that form businesses, manage corporate documents, or provide secretarial services.
They help structure entities, sometimes multiple layers deep.
This service can be misused to hide true ownership if AML checks are not done properly.

Law Firms & Legal Consultants

Legal professionals involved in corporate transactions, trust services, contract drafting, or dispute matters.
They often handle sensitive financial documents and legal transfers.
Because they facilitate complex deals, they must ensure no client uses legal structures for illegal purposes.

Dealers in Precious Metals & Stones

Businesses trading gold, diamonds, jewellery, luxury watches, or precious stones.
These items are portable and often bought for cash, making them attractive for laundering.
Dealers must verify clients making high-value purchases and maintain proper transaction records.

Trust & Company Service Providers (TCSPs)

Firms offering nominee directors, registered office services, trusteeship, or company management.
They manage legal entities where real ownership may be hidden.
This creates a high AML risk, so strong verification and monitoring are required.

Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs)

Crypto exchanges, wallet operators, token platforms, or digital asset service providers.
Virtual assets move fast across borders and can be hard to trace.
VASPs must monitor transactions closely and report suspicious crypto activity.

Tax Consultants & Advisors

Professionals providing tax planning, filing, restructuring, or wealth advisory.
They often deal with clients who move funds across jurisdictions.
This requires strong AML checks to ensure transactions are legitimate and transparent.

Luxury Goods & High-Value Dealers

Dealers selling art, rare collectables, high-end cars, yachts, or antiques.
Large-value items can be used to convert illicit funds into physical assets.
Businesses must keep clear buyer records and flag unusual payment patterns.

Industries We Serve

Insurance

Ecommerce

Manufacturing

Oil and Gas

Real Estate

Trading

Management Consultancy

Hospitality

Holding Companies

Logistics

Frequently Asked Questions

Anti-money laundering (AML) refers to the legal and regulatory steps designed to stop criminals from converting illicit funds into legitimate assets. In the UAE, AML compliance requires businesses to monitor customers, report suspicious activity and follow anti-money laundering UAE guidelines. Compliance protects your company’s reputation and prevents costly penalties.

AML compliance ensures your business meets anti-money laundering UAE laws, reducing the risk of fines, frozen accounts and reputational damage. A structured AML compliance audit helps identify vulnerabilities in your operations, strengthens internal controls, and demonstrates to regulators that you take financial crime prevention seriously.

In an AML compliance audit, you assess your business’s policies, transaction monitoring, customer due diligence (CDD) processes, risk assessments and reporting mechanisms. The audit shows whether your anti-money laundering UAE obligations are fulfilled, and highlights any gaps so you can act before a regulator identifies them.

Both financial institutions and certain non-financial businesses, so-called DNFBPs, must comply. Under UAE laws, businesses such as Real-Estate Agents, Precious Metal Dealers and Accountants must follow anti-money laundering UAE rules. Compliance means registering with goAML, setting up internal controls and submitting suspicious-transaction reports.

An anti-money laundering certificate is a document often issued after you complete training or a compliance assessment, showing you meet the required standard. Having it helps demonstrate you understand anti-money laundering UAE policies, and may support your application for licences or contracts that require verified AML readiness.

The key anti-money laundering UAE guidelines include identifying and verifying clients, assessing risk, screening for sanctions, retaining documents and filing suspicious-transaction reports. Your business must adopt these into its AML compliance programme, and regularly update them in line with evolving laws and emerging threats.

Many businesses schedule a full AML compliance audit annually, though higher-risk sectors may choose more frequent reviews. An audit tests whether your internal controls meet anti-money laundering UAE standards, verifies your policies are working, and ensures you’re ready for regulatory review at any moment.