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Service · Regulated · Mandatory for DNFBPs

UAE AML compliance, done before the fine arrives.

goAML registration, Compliance Officer appointment, client risk assessments, suspicious activity reports. If your activity is on the DNFBP list, this is not optional. We handle the full lifecycle.

From AED 3,500/month (≈ £753) goAML-registered 14-day onboarding
If you skip it
Penalties under Cabinet Decision 10 of 2019
Failing to register on goAMLAED 50,000
First offence, immediate fine
No Compliance Officer appointedAED 50,000
Per month of non-compliance
Missing suspicious activity reportUp to AED 1,000,000
Plus potential criminal exposure
Repeated breachLicence suspension
Free zone revokes trade licence
Source: UAE Federal Decree-Law 20 of 2018 + Cabinet Decision 10 of 2019. Enforcement increased materially after FATF grey-list exit in 2024.
2018
Federal Decree-Law 20: the core UAE AML framework
goAML
FIU portal where DNFBPs register and report
9
DNFBP categories that must register
14 days
From signed engagement to live goAML profile
Who needs this

If you do any of this, AML is not optional.

UAE DNFBP (Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession) categories that must register with goAML and appoint a Compliance Officer. If you sit on this list, you are in scope from your first transaction.

Business activity
goAML registration
Compliance Officer
Real estate broker or agent
Required
Required
Gold and precious metals dealer
Required
Required
Auditor or external accountant
Required
Required
Lawyer, notary, independent legal pro
Required
Required
Corporate service provider
Required
Required
Trust or company formation agent
Required
Required
Cash-handling general trading
Risk-based
Risk-based
Pure professional services (marketing, design, IT)
Not required
Not required
What we deliver

The full DNFBP compliance lifecycle.

Not a one-off filing. AML is a continuous obligation: register, build the policies, train staff, monitor transactions, file SARs, get audited. We carry every step.

goAML registration

Register your entity on the FIU portal. Set up the user accounts, link the trade licence, complete the entity profile. Live within 14 days of signed engagement.

Compliance Officer appointment

Appoint a qualified Compliance Officer (your nominee or one of our staff under outsourcing). File the appointment with the Ministry of Economy. Renewable annually.

AML policy and procedure manual

Tailored policy: client onboarding, KYC standards, ongoing monitoring, record keeping, sanctions screening, PEP checks, escalation matrix. Reviewed annually.

Client KYC and risk-rating

Initial KYC on every new client, periodic refresh based on risk rating, enhanced due diligence for high-risk relationships. Documented audit trail.

Suspicious activity reporting

When a transaction triggers a red flag, we draft the SAR/STR on goAML for your Compliance Officer to file. 100% confidential, no tipping off the client.

Annual training and inspection prep

Annual staff training (mandatory under Article 16 Cabinet Decision 10). Inspection prep: documents, sample files, walk-through. We sit with you on inspection day.

Pricing

Three tiers, by transaction volume.

Pricing reflects the number of clients you onboard and transactions you process. Compliance Officer outsourcing is included in Growth and Scale.

Lite
< 25 clients · in-house Compliance Officer
AED 3,500/month (≈ £753)
Plus AED 6,000 one-off setup (≈ £1,290)
  • goAML registration + profile
  • AML policy manual
  • KYC templates and screening tool
  • Annual policy review
  • Annual staff training (one session)
Start Lite
Growth
25-100 clients · outsourced CO included
AED 5,500/month (≈ £1,183)
Plus AED 4,000 one-off setup (≈ £860)
  • Everything in Lite
  • Outsourced Compliance Officer
  • KYC and PEP screening on each client
  • SAR drafting and filing support
  • Quarterly transaction monitoring review
  • Inspection support day
Start Growth
Scale
100+ clients · multi-entity programme
AED 7,500/month (≈ £1,613)
Setup included
  • Everything in Growth
  • Multi-entity programme (UK + UAE)
  • Monthly transaction monitoring
  • Quarterly board AML report
  • Independent AML audit annually
Start Scale
Custom plan
Not in a standard tier? Build your own.
Scopedmonthly retainer
If you operate across jurisdictions or hold a regulated activity outside the standard DNFBP scope, we build a custom AML programme to your specific risk profile.
  • Multi-jurisdiction AML programme (UK + UAE + EU)
  • Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessment (EWRA) integration
  • MLRO outsourcing (UK MLR 2017 + UAE Cabinet Decision 10)
  • Complex regulated activities (VARA, DFSA, FSRA-licensed firms)
Talk to a partner
Common questions

AML questions UAE founders actually ask.

How do I know if I am a DNFBP?
Check your trade licence activity list. If you have any of: real estate brokerage, gold/precious metals trading, audit/external accounting, legal services, corporate services, trust/company formation, you are in scope. Cash-handling general trading can also be in scope on a risk-based assessment. We give you a one-page scoping memo on the first call so you know for certain.
Can you be our Compliance Officer or does it have to be in-house?
Either works. Smaller firms typically outsource the Compliance Officer role to a qualified third party (us). Larger firms appoint an in-house CO and use us as the support function. The Ministry of Economy accepts outsourced COs explicitly under the framework.
What if I already registered on goAML but did nothing else?
Common situation. Registration alone is not compliance. You still need the policy manual, the appointed Compliance Officer, KYC files on every client, transaction monitoring, training. We do a 1-day catch-up audit, list everything missing, and quote a remediation budget.
How often does the Ministry inspect?
Inspections were rare pre-2024. Post-FATF-grey-list exit, the Ministry of Economy materially increased on-site inspections for DNFBPs. Real estate and gold dealers are highest priority. If you are in scope, plan on an inspection within 18-24 months of your first registration.
What's the deadline if I just got my licence?
30 days from licence issuance to register on goAML. 30 days to appoint a Compliance Officer. The countdown starts the day your trade licence is printed. We can fold this work into a setup engagement if you are using us for company formation.
Does this overlap with UK AML obligations?
If you operate UK Ltd + UAE entity, you face both. UK supervised by HMRC for accountancy/legal/property; UAE supervised by Ministry of Economy and Central Bank. Different regimes, similar logic. We coordinate so you do not duplicate effort.

Get on the right side of UAE AML before the inspection.

A 30 minute call. We confirm your DNFBP scope, agree the tier, and you can be goAML-live within 14 working days.

Book a scoping call
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