September 22, 2025
The UAE's new anti-money laundering laws are dismantling the Kinahan cartel's financial network in Dubai, freezing assets and enabling arrests and extraditions.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is implementing stringent anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws aimed at dismantling criminal financial operations, notably targeting the Kinahan cartel's network in Dubai. The Times
These reforms, part of a broader compliance effort with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, will grant Emirati authorities expanded legal powers to freeze assets, investigate disguised ownership, and monitor virtual asset transfers. The Times
The Kinahan cartel, implicated in international drug trafficking and linked to smuggling crude oil for the Kremlin, used Dubai as a base for laundering money through opaque business structures and free-trade zones. The Times
Although previously shielded due to the lack of extradition requests and Interpol red notices, the new legislation paves the way for arrests and extraditions of gang leaders Christy, Daniel, and Christopher Kinahan. The Times
The UAE has begun acting on these reforms, including freezing cartel assets and extraditing other criminal figures like Raffaele Imperiale. The Times
This crackdown, supported by governments such as Ireland’s, signals a major shift in the UAE’s commitment to safeguarding its financial system and contributing to global security efforts.
