UAE, UK meet to further boost ties

The UAE and the United Kingdom have discussed ways and means to enhance and consolidate further the relationship that exists between the two countries, especially in the areas of combating money laundering, terrorist financing and related economic and financial crimes. Both the sides met in Rome on the sidelines of the third Plenary meeting of FATF XXIII. The meeting was attended by members of a delegation from the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee, or NAMLC, representing the Dubai Police General Headquarters, the General Directorate of State Security in Dubai, State Security in Abu Dhabi and the Federal Customs Authority from the UAE side. The UAE Central Bank on Saturday announced that the meeting was held to enhance strategic relationships with friendly countries on matters of global concern. The UAE delegation was headed by Abdulrahim Mohamed Al Awadi, executive director and head of the Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit at the UAE Central Bank. The NAMLC delegation highlighted the workshops and trainings conducted jointly with UK authorities and others on AML/CFT for all stakeholders, which reflected UAE’s commitment to international cooperation on matters of global concern. They discussed enhancement of cooperation and coordination between the authorities concerned in the UAE and their counterparts in the UK. They also talked about getting feedback on the level of cooperation between the financial intelligence units of both countries. Holding joint workshops for all stakeholders was also discussed with regard to capacity building on AML/CFT including on the revised FATF recommendations adopted in February 2012 and on other international instruments and related topics. Both the countries also agreed on the exchange of information on suspected illicit financial flows which may occur between the UAE and the UK.