UAE Delegation Meets French Officials to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation

UAE Delegation Visits France to Strengthen Bilateral Efforts Against Financial Crimes

Paris, France, January 18:The General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations Committee (NAMLCFTC) led a high-ranking delegation from the United Arab Emirates to Paris for talks aimed at strengthening collaboration between France and the UAE in the fight against organized crime and financial crimes, ultimately advancing global economic security.

The mission’s main goal was to introduce the UAE’s National Strategy 2024–2027, which describes the nation’s commitment to fighting financial crimes. In accordance with international norms, this initiative demonstrates the UAE’s continuous proactive approach to enhancing international alliances and sharing experience to improve the efficacy of fighting money laundering (AML) and combating the funding of terrorism (CFT).

Hamid Saif AlZaabi, the Secretary-General of the General Secretariat and Vice Chairman of NAMLCFTC, underscored the significance of international collaboration in addressing financial crime. “France is not only one of the UAE’s largest trade partners but also a key partner in the broader global fight against illicit financial flows,” he remarked. “The mission reflects our commitment to developing international partnerships to address the challenges of financial crime, with a particular focus on global organized crime, drug trafficking and emerging threats.”

The objectives of the mission were discussed with French counterparts in a number of sectors, including the Treasury, Justice and Interior Ministries, and the Financial Intelligence Unit. It aims to strengthen existing collaborations and focus on shared challenges such as money laundering and terrorist financing, with a strong commitment to strengthening joint efforts in addressing transnational financial risks.

The UAE Ambassador to France, Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, praised the continued close ties between the two countries. “This visit marks an important milestone in enhancing the long-standing partnership between the UAE and France,” said the President. “Through close cooperation and exchange of expertise, we aim to address global economic security challenges and contribute to the fight against financial crime.”

The delegation’s visit demonstrated how the UAE is setting the standard for implementing international best practices to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing, while promoting economic diversification and growth. The UAE remains committed to building a strong, diversified economy supported by scientific and technological advances, in order to attract foreign investment.

The mission also gave the chance to review earlier initiatives to strengthen legal cooperation between the UAE and France, such as a recent meeting between Jean-Francois Bohnert, the head of France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, and UAE Minister of Justice Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi. Furthermore, the financial intelligence units of the UAE and France strengthened their cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in early 2024, with the aim of improving financial data sharing for effective financial crime prevention.

As this partnership grows, the UAE is committed to promoting global frameworks that protect financial integrity and combat illicit financial activities.