DFSA AML and Glossary Modules Amendments and FAQs Published

DFSA Dubai News

Published March 2nd, 2026

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has amended its Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing and Sanctions (AML) and Glossary Modules, effective March 2, 2026. These changes align with new UAE federal AML legislation and are accompanied by published FAQs to provide clarity for relevant persons operating within the DIFC.

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What changed

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has updated its Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing and Sanctions (AML) and Glossary Modules of the DFSA Rulebook, with amendments coming into force on March 2, 2026. These changes are a direct response to the new UAE federal AML legislation enacted in late 2025, specifically Federal Decree by Law No. (10) of 2025 and Cabinet Resolution No. (134) of 2025. The DFSA's amendments aim to clarify the AML regime within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and ensure alignment with national AML requirements.

Relevant persons operating within the DIFC are reminded of their ongoing obligation to comply with both the UAE Federal AML legislation and the updated DFSA AML Module. The DFSA has also published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to assist regulated entities in understanding and implementing these changes. Compliance officers should review the updated modules and FAQs to ensure adherence to the revised AML framework and confirm ongoing compliance with all applicable federal and DIFC regulations.

What to do next

Review updated DFSA AML and Glossary Modules
Review published DFSA AML/CTF/CPF FAQs
Ensure ongoing compliance with UAE Federal AML legislation and DFSA AML Module

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Alerts Back to news ###### 02 Mar 2026, 04:23 pm

DFSA AML and Glossary Modules amendments come into force; FAQs published

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)’s updated Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing and Sanctions (AML) and Glossary Modules of the DFSA Rulebook came into force on 2 March 2026.

The amendments follow the new UAE AML federal legislation, introduced in late 2025:

Federal Decree by Law No. (10) of 2025 Regarding Anti-Money Laundering, and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing; and
Cabinet Resolution No. (134) of 2025 Regarding the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree by Law No. (10) of 2025 Regarding Anti-Money Laundering, and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing. DFSA’s amendments were introduced to provide clarity on the AML regime applicable in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and to align with Federal AML legislation.

Relevant Persons are reminded of their obligation to ensure ongoing compliance with:

UAE Federal AML legislation
The DIFC Regulatory Law 2004 as it relates to AML
The AML Module of the DFSA Rulebook Frequently Asked Questions relating to AML/CTF/CPF

The DFSA has also published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) addressing key areas where firms often seek clarification, including governance, risk assessments, digital onboarding, outsourcing, and internal audit expectations. The FAQs are intended as a supporting material and should be read alongside the Rules.

For further information on the amendments to the AML and Glossary Modules, please refer to the Notice of Amendments to Legislation issued in February 2026.

To read the FAQs, please click here.