The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will prioritise enhancing institutional governance and internal structures to make the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) and its Secretariat more efficient and strengthen its resources as the country takes over the group’s presidency for 2026.
International partnerships will form another central pillar of the UAE’s presidency, which will be represented by Hamid Saif AlZaabi.
The UAE’s presidency comes at a defining moment for the region, as MENAFATF prepares to launch the third round of mutual evaluations. Under the UAE’s leadership, the body will focus on strengthening regional readiness for mutual evaluations, modernising governance frameworks, deepening international cooperation, and advancing solutions to new and emerging financial crime risks.
Along with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the UAE forms part of a joint, two-year presidency sequence. Bahrain will lead the group in 2027.
AlZaabi commented: “It is a great honour to take on this leadership role. The Middle East and North Africa play a vital role in the global financial system today. Our region connects continents, markets, and major trade corridors, and what happens here increasingly shapes international financial stability.
“As the UAE assumes the Presidency of MENAFATF, our focus is on strengthening the region’s resilience and ensuring that our collective efforts contribute meaningfully to the global fight against financial crime. By working together, we can elevate standards, build stronger institutions, and deliver lasting impact for our region and the world.”
MENAFATF aligns with global standards
MENAFATF members welcomed the UAE’s presidency and its programmes for 2026, noting that it will help advance regional cohesion, strengthen national capabilities, and align the organisation’s work more closely with global standards and emerging risks.
Suliman Al-Jabrin, Executive Secretary of MENAFATF, said that the joint priorities agreed by the UAE for 2026 and Bahrain for 2027 reflect a forward-looking vision for the group. They provide continuity and support member states as they prepare for the upcoming round of mutual evaluations. Al-Jabrin believed that such a coordinated approach would enhance MENAFATF’s effectiveness.
The group comprises 21 member states from across the MENA region. Together, these economies represent an estimated combined GDP of more than US$3 trillion, underscoring the region’s strategic importance to global financial stability and the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
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