Circular 1/2018 on UAE terrorist list (companies)

CMA Circular No. 1/2018 of 2018 · UAE Federal

Official title
Circular No. (1) of 2018 Concerning the List of Terrorist Individuals and Organizations Approved by the United Arab Emirates (Addressed to Companies Engaged in the Securities and Commodities Business)
Arabic title
تعميم رقم (1) لسنة 2018 بشأن قائمة الأفراد والتنظيمات الإرهابية المعتمدة في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة والمعمم على الشركات العاملة في مجال الأوراق المالية والسلع
Instrument
CMA Circular No. 1/2018 of 2018
Issued by
Capital Market Authority
Jurisdiction
UAE Federal
Dates
issued 17 January 2018
Status
in force
Topics
AML / CFT · Sanctions
Official source
legislation.uaecma.gov.ae · official text (PDF)
Full text
English official text — 3 passages, 881 words, from the official text
Verified
31 October 2026
Print

SCA circular to companies engaged in the securities and commodities business concerning the list of terrorist individuals and organisations approved by the United Arab Emirates.

Summary

Circular No. 1 of 2018, dated 17 January 2018 and issued in English and Arabic by the Securities and Commodities Authority (now the CMA) to licensed financial service companies operating in the UAE, applies the additions to the UAE list of terrorist individuals and organisations made by Cabinet Resolution No. 53 of 2017. The attached list names designated individuals and organisations, followed by a reporting form.

The companies must: search for and freeze any cash, securities or commodities accounts of individuals, groups and organisations on the list, or of natural or legal persons associated with them; freeze funds received from, or on behalf of, listed persons or their associates; refrain from freezing, blocking or using an account unless names and details match the list entirely and without doubt, contacting the Authority or the Central Bank's Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit in case of doubt; and report the actions taken instantly to the Authority and that Unit. The form reports search results for identical and similar names, with account type (cash, shares or futures contracts) and balance. Enquiries go to amltfc@sca.ae.

The CMA publishes the same file under the companion entry for markets (Circular No. 1 of 2018, markets).

Status: listed as in force. Freezing against the UAE Local Terrorist List is now governed by Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2020.

Who it applies to

Financial service companies licensed by the Securities and Commodities Authority (now the CMA) and operating in the UAE, for accounts and funds linked to persons added to the UAE list by Cabinet Resolution No. 53 of 2017.

Contents

English official text in 3 passages. Open the full text or jump to a provision:

  1. Passage 1
  2. Passage 2
  3. Passage 3

Key provisions

Paragraph FirstSearch for and freeze any cash, securities or commodities accounts of persons on the list approved by the UAE, or of associated natural or legal persons.
Paragraph SecondFreeze funds received from, or on behalf of, listed persons or their associates.
Paragraph ThirdFreeze only on an entire and undoubted match; in case of doubt contact the Authority or the Central Bank's AML unit.
Paragraph FourthInstantly report actions taken to freeze accounts to the Authority and the Central Bank's AML unit on the attached form.
Annex (list and form)List of individuals and organisations under Cabinet Resolution No. 53 of 2017 and a form reporting search results for identical and similar names.

Obligations and deadlines

  • Search client accounts against the persons added by Cabinet Resolution No. 53 of 2017.
  • Freeze matched accounts and incoming funds for listed persons.
  • Report search results and freezes instantly on the attached form.

Penalties

The circular sets no amounts; it states that compliance avoids severe penalties and sanctions in the UAE and abroad.

In practice — how Polaris handles it

We are not licensed by the CMA. We use the circular to date historic additions to the UAE list when reviewing a client's past screening or a historic freeze. Current screening, which we build into the compliance manuals we maintain for clients, runs against the UAE Local Terrorist List under Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2020.

History and citations

No amendments, repeals or cross-references recorded for this instrument.

“Cites” and “Cited by” are built automatically from references in the full texts held in this library; they cover only instruments in the library.

Related instruments

Circular 1/2018 on UAE terrorist list (markets)

CMA Circular 1/2018/2018 · UAE Federal · in forceFull text

SCA circular to securities and commodities markets concerning the list of terrorist individuals and organisations approved by the United Arab Emirates.

Circular 2/2018 on UAE terrorist list (companies)

CMA Circular 2/2018/2018 · UAE Federal · in forceFull text

SCA circular to companies engaged in the securities and commodities business concerning the list of terrorist individuals and organisations approved by the United Arab Em…

Circular 2/2017 on UAE terrorist list (companies)

CMA Circular 2/2017/2017 · UAE Federal · in forceFull text

SCA circular to companies engaged in the securities and commodities business concerning the list of terrorist individuals and organisations approved by the United Arab Em…

Circular 3/2015 on UAE terrorist list (companies)

CMA Circular 3/2015/2015 · UAE Federal · in forceFull text

SCA circular to companies engaged in the securities and commodities business concerning the list of terrorist individuals and organisations approved by the United Arab Em…

Targeted Financial Sanctions Regulation

CD 74/2020 · UAE Federal · in forceFull text

Governs the UAE Local Terrorist List and the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions: listing and delisting, the role of the Executive Office for Control and Non-…

Notice 2/2021 on UNSC and UAE sanctions lists

CMA Circular 2/2021/2021 · UAE Federal · in forceFull text

SCA notice to licensed entities and exchanges on implementing United Nations Security Council and UAE Cabinet resolutions on the UNSC and local lists, with a notification…

AML/CFT/CPF Law 2025

FDL 10/2025 · UAE Federal · in forceFull text

The UAE's principal AML law in 42 articles. It criminalises money laundering, terrorism and proliferation financing, imposes risk assessment, customer due diligence, reco…

Related Polaris services

Source and verification. This record was written from the official text published at legislation.uaecma.gov.ae, read on 31 October 2026. Quoted from that text: “With reference to Cabinet Resolution No. (53) of 2017 on the list of terrorist groups and organizations approved by the United Arab Emirates”
Published for general information by Polaris Corporate Services FZ-LLC, a licensed Trust and Corporate Service Provider. It is not legal advice and does not replace the official text, which prevails in case of difference. Arabic is the authoritative language of UAE federal and emirate legislation; English translations are provided by the issuing authorities. Instruments change: check the status and the official source before relying on this page.

Begin a Conversation

Whether you are establishing a new venture, restructuring an existing enterprise, or exploring residency pathways — we are here to advise.

Arrange a Consultation →