The short answer
Designated non-financial businesses and professions must register on goAML, the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit's reporting portal. They include real estate brokers and agents, auditors and accountants, dealers in precious metals and stones, and corporate service providers. Registration comes with duties to assess risk, verify customers and report suspicious transactions.
Who must register on goAML?
All designated non-financial businesses and professions supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism: real estate firms, auditing and accounting firms, dealers in precious metals or stones, and trust or company service providers (Ministry of Economy and Tourism). Failing to register can lead to penalties from the Ministry.
What does goAML registration involve?
Creating the organisation's account, appointing and registering a compliance officer, and uploading the licence and identification documents. Once approved, the account is used to file suspicious transaction reports and the threshold reports some sectors must submit. We prepare the file and walk the compliance officer through the portal.
“All Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) were required to register on the goAML portal.”
What AML duties come with registration?
A written business-wide risk assessment, customer due diligence with enhanced checks for higher-risk clients, sanctions screening, record keeping, staff training and suspicious transaction reporting, under Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018 and its implementing Cabinet Decision (Ministry of Economy and Tourism). Ultimate beneficial owner records support the same checks (JAFZA UBO guidance).
How do you prepare for an AML inspection?
By being able to show the programme working: a current risk assessment, files that evidence due diligence, screening logs, training records and a reporting log. We run a mock inspection against the Ministry's expectations and fix gaps before the real one.
Frequently asked questions
Is a jewellery shop a DNFBP?
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Yes. Dealers in precious metals and stones, including jewellery stores, are designated businesses.
Do corporate service providers register?
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Yes. Firms that set up companies or provide registered addresses are covered.
Can you act as our compliance officer?
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We support the appointed officer with procedures, reviews and training; the officer must be someone the regulator accepts.
Sources
- Does your company fall under the DNFBP? (goAML registration) — UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism. Checked 17 October 2026.
- Ultimate Beneficial Owners and Intermediate Beneficial Owners (Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023) — Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza). Checked 16 October 2026.