CMA Circular No. 3/2015 of 2015 · UAE Federal
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.
Circular No. 3 of 2015, dated 16 December 2015 and issued in English and Arabic by the Securities and Commodities Authority (now the CMA) to licensed securities and commodities companies operating in the UAE, applies the UAE's own list of terrorist groups and organisations. The list was set by Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2014, issued under Federal Law No. 7 of 2014 on combating terrorist crimes, and a copy is attached.
Four instructions follow. First, freeze any cash, securities or commodities accounts of individuals, groups and organisations on the UAE list, or of natural or legal persons associated with them. Second, freeze funds received from, or on behalf of, listed persons or their associates. Third, do not freeze, block or use an account unless names and details match the list entirely and without doubt; in case of doubt, contact the Authority or the Central Bank's Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit. Fourth, report freezing actions instantly to the Authority and that Unit, using the attached form for identical and similar names. Enquiries and reports go to amltfc@sca.ae.
The companion Circular No. 4 of 2015 gives the same instructions to the licensed markets.
Status: listed as in force. The list has since been updated by later Cabinet resolutions, which the CMA circulated in 2017 and 2018, and freezing against the UAE Local Terrorist List is now governed by Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2020.
Companies licensed by the Securities and Commodities Authority (now the CMA) to carry on securities and commodities business in the UAE, for accounts and funds linked to persons on the UAE terrorist list.
English official text in 2 passages. Open the full text or jump to a provision:
| Paragraph First | Freeze any cash, securities or commodities accounts of individuals, groups and organisations on the UAE list, or of associated natural or legal persons. |
| Paragraph Second | Freeze funds received from, or on behalf of, listed individuals, groups and organisations or their associated persons. |
| Paragraph Third | Freeze only on an entire and undoubted match of names and details; in case of doubt contact the Authority or the Central Bank's AML unit. |
| Paragraph Fourth | Instantly report freezing actions to the Authority and the Central Bank's Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit. |
| Annex (list and form) | Copy of the list under Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2014 and a form for reporting frozen accounts of identical and similar names. |
The circular sets no amounts; it states that non-compliance exposes the company to severe penalties and sanctions in the UAE and abroad.
We are not licensed by the CMA. For brokerage and investment clients, we screen against the current UAE Local Terrorist List under Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2020 rather than the 2014 list attached here, but we cite this circular when explaining historic freezes or reviewing older compliance manuals. The point that survives is the second instruction: incoming funds from a listed person must also be frozen.
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.
Circular 4/2015 on UAE terrorist list (markets)
SCA circular to licensed UAE securities and commodities markets concerning the list of terrorist individuals and organisations approved by the United Arab Emirates.
Circular 1/2017 on UAE terrorist list (companies)
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)
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 1/2018 on UAE terrorist list (companies)
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 2/2018 on UAE terrorist list (companies)
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
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
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
The UAE's principal AML law in 42 articles. It criminalises money laundering, terrorism and proliferation financing, imposes risk assessment, customer due diligence, reco…
Whether you are establishing a new venture, restructuring an existing enterprise, or exploring residency pathways — we are here to advise.
Arrange a Consultation →