Abu Dhabi, UAE, 10 December 2025 — The General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing Committee (NAMLCFTPFC), in cooperation with Themis, has issued a new analytical paper entitled Anatomy of a Digital Threat: Understanding and Addressing Cyber-Enabled Financial Crime in the UAE.
The publication presents one of the UAE’s most detailed examinations to date of how rapid technological transformation — including the growth of artificial intelligence, virtual assets, e-commerce and digital payment systems — is reshaping the national financial-crime risk environment. The paper outlines how criminal networks are leveraging digital tools at scale and stresses the importance of sustained public–private collaboration to enhance national resilience.
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Dr. Ebrahim Al Alkeem, Director of the National Risks and Policies Department at the General Secretariat,has emphasized the need for a robust,unified response to emerging threats.
“Given the sustained, rapid evolution ofcyber-enabled financial crime, the integration of current research, such as this paper, is indispensable to the widerNational Risk Assessment (NRA) effortsbeing executed within the UAE. The recent publication of this year’s public NRA summary further underscores our commitment to data-driven risk management. Critically, our authorities operate under a comprehensivewhole-of-government framework, which ensures that threats stemming from technological advancements are pre-emptively and effectively managed throughcoordinated, comprehensive, and forward-looking preventative measures.” Dr. Ebrahim Al Alkeem, Director of the National Risks and Policies Department at the General Secretariat:
Dickon Johnstone, CEO of Themis, added, “As cyber-enabled financial crime accelerates, the need for intelligence-led and technology-driven solutions becomes ever more critical. Themis is committed to equipping organisations with the tools and insight required to identify hidden risks and protect their people, assets and operations. This paper highlights the urgency of preparing for the fast-changing threat landscape associated with digital transformation.”
The paper was released today, during the 2025 edition of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, where its findings were presented at a dedicated panel session titled Criminal Code: Mapping the Cybercrime Economy. It is part of the UAE’s continued efforts to strengthen economic security, including the enactment of Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 on Countering Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation Financing with sustained investment in advanced cyber-security capabilities and cross-border law-enforcement cooperation.
The report underlines the UAE’s continuing reforms to strengthen AML/CFT/CPF supervision, enhance the oversight of virtual-asset service providers, expand cyber-intelligence capabilities and build an integrated national approach linking law enforcement, regulators and private-sector partners.
Themis is a pioneer in the use of AI in the fight against Financial Crimes. A certified B-Corp dedicated to stopping the deliberate exploitation of people, businesses and the natural world. Themis works with clients globally across regulated and unregulated sectors. Its flagship platform, Themis Search, combines advanced AI with investigative intelligence to make financial crime detection more effective, accessible and impactful.
The General Secretariat serves as the executive body of the National Committee for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Proliferation (NAMLCFTPFC). Its core functions include proposing national systems, procedures, and policies to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing crimes, and assessing their effectiveness. The Secretariat is also responsible for coordinating national efforts related to mutual evaluations and follow-up processes concerning the UAE’s AML/CFT/CPF framework, as well as facilitating information exchange and coordination among competent authorities at both the policy and operational levels, to ensure compliance with the National AML/CFT/CPF Strategy. In addition, it works to strengthen international partnerships by engaging with foreign authorities and international organisations involved in combating financial crime.
The National Committee was originally established more than 20 years ago and was reconstituted under Federal Decree-Law No. (10) of 2025 on Countering Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Proliferation Financing. It serves as the UAE’s primary policymaking body responsible for developing and advancing the national strategy to combat these crimes and for establishing related systems, procedures, and policies. Its responsibilities include identifying and assessing risks at the national level and determining high-risk jurisdictions and those with deficiencies in their AML/CFT/CPF systems to ensure the application of appropriate countermeasures.
The National Committee carries out its mandate through eight specialised sub-committees, each focused on advancing key priorities such as technical compliance, national risk assessment, supervision and oversight, enforcement, international cooperation, and public–private partnership. The Committee reports to the Higher Committee for Oversight of the National Strategy to Combat Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Proliferation Financing, chaired by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
For more information
Please contact media@amlctf.gov.ae
Luis Rolim, CMO
lr@wearethemis.com
