EU to remove UAE from high-risk money laundering list after FATF delisting

The European Commission is preparing to remove the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from its list of high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regimes.

This move, detailed in a document reviewed by Euractiv, follows the decision by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to delist the UAE from its own grey list in February 2024.

The Commission's proposed delisting reflects recognition of the UAE's progress in addressing the concerns that had led to its initial inclusion. The EU had added the UAE to its high-risk list in March 2023, subjecting Emirati financial transactions to heightened scrutiny across the bloc and increasing international pressure on the Gulf state.

This is not the first time the European Commission has attempted to delist the UAE. A previous proposal in 2023 was blocked by the European Parliament, which raised concerns over judicial and law enforcement cooperation with the Emirates. In response, the Commission now acknowledges the progress made and has pledged to “closely monitor the implementation of these measures in the continuous structural dialogue with the UAE.”

The current EU list of high-risk jurisdictions includes 22 countries, such as Nigeria, Vietnam, and South Africa. It was last updated in December 2023. Countries on this list face tighter financial regulations within the EU, heightened due diligence requirements for financial institutions, and a greater risk of financial exclusion.

The move to delist the UAE also comes as political and economic ties between Brussels and Abu Dhabi deepen. In April 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan by phone, during which they agreed to initiate talks on a potential free trade agreement.

The upcoming revision to the EU’s list will also see the removal of several other countries: Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, and Uganda. At the same time, new additions to the list will include Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, and Venezuela.

The official update to the EU’s high-risk third country list is expected to be adopted in the coming weeks.

By Tamilla Hasanova