Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) in cooperation with the World Gold Council (WGC) held a workshop today on the misuse of the gold sector for money laundering and terrorist financing.

The workshop was attended by nearly 200 participants, representing financial intelligence units, judicial authorities, law enforcement agencies, and supervisory bodies from member countries.

22-26 September 2025 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The regional workshop on “Risk-Based Approach and Risk Assessment Mechanisms for Financial Institutions” kicked off this morning, organized by the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) in cooperation with the Arab Monetary Fund and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), with the participation of experts from member countries, observers and conducted in AMF headquarter in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Central Bank Governors of MENAFATF members met for the first time, coinciding with the start of the third round of mutual evaluations of AML/CFT/PF in the region, and providing support to MENAFATF and its members. The meeting was attended by FATF President Elisa Medrazo; MENAFATF President Samia Abu Sharif of Jordan; MENAFATF Vice President Hamed Al Zaabi of UAE; and MENAFATF Executive Secretary Suliman Aljabrin.

Ms. Samya Abou Sharif, MENAFATF President participated in the opening session of the 2025 Annual Summit of the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime (GCFFC), which was held at Abu Dhabi Global Market on 10–11 September. The summit convened over 200 global leaders and experts to advance collaborative efforts in combating financial crime. MENAFATF Vice President, Mr. Hamid Alzaabi, participated in the summit, while Executive Secretary, Mr.

Tokyo 2025

MENAFATF proudly participated in the 2025 APG Annual Meeting and Technical Assistance Forum in Tokyo. MENAFATF President Ms. Samya Abou Sharif and MENAFATF’s Vice President Mr. Hamid Alzaabi and the Executive Secretary Mr. Suliman Aljibrin joined the FATF-Style Regional Body APG Secretariat at Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG)’s Annual Meeting.

As part of the procedures preceding the commencement of the mutual evaluation of the AML/CFT system in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, a delegation from the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), the regional group responsible for implementing mutual evaluations of countries in the region, visited the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on August 12, 2025. The delegation included Her Excellency Ms. Samya Abousharif, MENAFATF President; His Excellency Mr. Hamid Al Zaabi, MENAFATF Vice President; Mr. Suliman Aljabrin, MENAFATF Executive Secretary; Mr.