LONDON, 24th August, 2026 (WAM) — Hamid Saif Al Zaabi, President of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), participated in the 43rd Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime, held from 23rd to 30th August under the theme, “Asset Recovery and the Rule of Law: Taking the Profit Out of Crime – From Rhetoric to Results.”
His participation forms part of MENAFATF’s efforts to strengthen its international partnerships, expand cooperation with organisations and entities involved in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, and exchange expertise on emerging risks and trends in financial crime.
His participation also included the delivery of a keynote address highlighting MENAFATF’s role in supporting its member countries and strengthening regional and international cooperation to combat financial crime.
Al Zaabi said that strengthening international partnerships is a central pillar of MENAFATF’s work, particularly given the rapid evolution and cross-border nature of financial crime.
He noted that closer cooperation with international partners supports the exchange of expertise, capacity building and the effective implementation of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Standards across the region.
He said, “MENAFATF is committed to strengthening its presence at leading events focused on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and to building practical partnerships that facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise. These partnerships support the development of more efficient and effective responses to shared risks and contribute to safeguarding the integrity and stability of financial systems.”
Al Zaabi highlighted the importance of the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime and its role as a platform bringing together policymakers, law enforcement agencies, supervisory authorities, compliance experts, representatives of the financial sector and academics.
He affirmed that such events help develop a shared understanding of current challenges and translate international discussions into practical and applicable solutions.
On the sidelines of the symposium, Al Zaabi met with Giles Thomson, President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination between FATF and MENAFATF, support shared priorities and expand the exchange of expertise, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of regional and international efforts to combat financial crime.
During the meeting, Al Zaabi reaffirmed MENAFATF’s support for the priorities of the United Kingdom’s FATF Presidency for 2026–2028. These priorities aim to strengthen the international response to fraud and its associated money laundering and terrorist financing risks, advance the effective implementation of the risk-based approach and risk-based supervision, enhance information sharing, and strengthen public-private partnerships.
He added that these priorities align with the needs of countries across the region and support efforts to build more efficient systems that are responsive to evolving risks.
He affirmed that MENAFATF will continue working with FATF and international partners to support their implementation, draw on regional expertise and strengthen the contribution of countries in the region to the global response to evolving financial threats.
Al Zaabi also held a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of entities participating in the symposium. The meetings addressed ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination, exchange expertise on emerging risks, and follow up on initiatives and areas of work aimed at improving the effectiveness of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing systems at the regional and international levels.
First held in 1982 and organised under the auspices of the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge, the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime is a non-profit international platform that promotes understanding and practical cooperation in preventing and combating economic crime.
The symposium attracts approximately 2,000 participants from more than 100 countries, while its programme includes over 120 sessions and workshops addressing key challenges to the integrity of systems, institutions and economies.
Source: Emirates News Agency
