MENAFATF Sets 2025 Strategic Goals to Enhance AML/CTF Efforts Across the Region

The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) held a joint meeting in the “Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”.

The meeting aimed to develop its strategic plans for 2025 under the leadership of the United Arab Emirates & Jordan to strengthen AML/CTF frameworks across the MENA region.

Samia Abu Sharif & members of the National Committee, and the Head of the AML & terrorist financing unit led the meeting in Jordan to combat illegal activities, including money laundering & terrorist financing.

Vice-Chairman of the Group, Hamed Saif Al-Zaabi, Vice Chairman of the UAE National Committee, terrorist financing and the financing of Illegal organizations (GS-NAMLCFTC) & attendees of Suliman bin Rashid Aljabrin and executive secretary of the group also participated in the meeting.

MENAFATF highlighted its strategic priorities for 2025 that were identified & approved during the 39th Plenary meeting in November 2024. These priorities built upon the remarkable achievements of the Yemeni presidency in 2024.

The joint meeting will focus on improving the “group’s role in evaluating member states compliance with global standards” set by the intergovernmental body Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

What Are The Key Initiatives Or Priorities Approved In The 39th Plenary Meeting?

1. Enhancing the MENAFATF’s role in planning for and carrying out the third round of the mutual evaluation process, as well as assisting member nations undertaking the review.
2. Strengthen the group’s governance system.
3. Assisting in implementing and completing the FATF recommendations action plan, which aims to improve the group’s procedures and make them more clear and focused to achieve the recommendations.
4. Encouraging collaboration, communication, and coordination with international and regional affiliates, as well as other regional entities, to line with the group’s strategic and operational goals.
5. Strengthening international norms to combat money laundering, terrorist funding, and weapons proliferation.

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AlJabrin stressed the importance of the collaborative initiative between the group’s current presidency, represented by Jordan, and the incoming presidency, represented by the UAE.

This campaign is especially appropriate because it coincides with the 20th anniversary of the group’s formation

He emphasized the need to implement medium-term strategic plans that are consistent with the group’s aims, aspirations, and efforts to combat financial crimes.

According to a news source, these priorities show MENAFATF’s commitment to strengthening the AML/CFT frameworks across the MENA region. 

The UAE and Jordan are committed to strengthening the group’s commitment to global financial integrity while also supporting regional measures to reduce the risk of financial crime.