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Under the UAEβs Anti-Money Laundering (AML) framework, certain non-financial businesses are considered high-risk for misuse by criminals. These businesses are classified as Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) and are subject to strict AML and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) obligations.
Real estate companies in the UAE operate under direct Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervision due to the sectorβs vulnerability to misuse for money laundering and illicit wealth placement. In particular, the Ministry of Economy (MOE) plays a central supervisory role for real estate brokers and agents across the UAE.
High-value property transactions are a major focus area for UAE regulators due to their frequent misuse for money laundering, layering of illicit funds, and concealment of beneficial ownership. As a result, real estate brokers and agents are expected to identify and escalate red flags promptly under UAE AML regulations.
