Circular 4/2015 on UAE terrorist list (markets)

CMA Circular No. 4/2015 of 2015 · UAE Federal

Official title
Circular No. (4) of 2015 Concerning the List of Terrorist Individuals and Organizations Approved by the United Arab Emirates (addressed to licensed, UAE-based securities and commodities markets)
Arabic title
تعميم رقم (4) لسنة 2015 بشأن قائمة التنظيمات والمجموعات الإرهابية المعتمدة في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة والمعمم على أسواق الأوراق المالية والسلع المرخصة في الدولة
Instrument
CMA Circular No. 4/2015 of 2015
Issued by
Capital Market Authority
Jurisdiction
UAE Federal
Dates
issued 16 December 2015
Status
in force
Topics
AML / CFT · Sanctions
Official source
legislation.uaecma.gov.ae · official text (PDF)
Full text
English official text — 2 passages, 810 words, from the official text
Verified
31 October 2026
Print

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

Summary

Circular No. 4 of 2015, dated 16 December 2015 and issued in English and Arabic by the Securities and Commodities Authority (now the CMA) to the licensed securities and commodities markets operating in the UAE, applies the UAE's list of terrorist groups and organisations set by Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2014 under Federal Law No. 7 of 2014 on combating terrorist crimes. A copy of the list is attached.

The markets must: 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 freezing actions instantly to the Authority and that Unit on the attached form. Enquiries go to amltfc@sca.ae.

Circular No. 3 of 2015 gives the same instructions to licensed securities and commodities companies.

Status: listed as in force. The UAE list has since been extended by later Cabinet resolutions circulated by the Authority in 2017 and 2018, and freezing against the UAE Local Terrorist List is now governed by Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2020.

Who it applies to

The licensed securities and commodities markets (exchanges) in the UAE, for accounts and funds linked to persons on the UAE terrorist list.

Contents

English official text in 2 passages. Open the full text or jump to a provision:

  1. Passage 1
  2. Passage 2

Key provisions

Paragraph FirstFreeze any cash, securities or commodities accounts of listed individuals, groups and organisations, 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 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.

Obligations and deadlines

  • Freeze market accounts of persons on the UAE terrorist list and their associates.
  • Freeze incoming funds from or on behalf of listed persons.
  • Report each freeze instantly on the prescribed form.

Penalties

The circular sets no amounts; it states that non-compliance exposes the market to severe penalties and sanctions in the UAE and abroad.

In practice — how Polaris handles it

We are not licensed by the CMA. We refer to this circular when a client asks why a market account was frozen in the years after 2015, or when reviewing older compliance files. Our current screening for clients follows the UAE Local Terrorist List as maintained 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 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…

Circular 1/2015 on freezing accounts (markets)

CMA Circular 1/2015/2015 · UAE Federal · in forceFull text

SCA circular to licensed UAE securities and commodities markets on freezing and unfreezing accounts of individuals designated as having links to terrorist organisations u…

Circular 1/2017 on UAE terrorist list (markets)

CMA Circular 1/2017/2017 · UAE Federal · in forceFull text

SCA circular to licensed UAE securities and commodities markets concerning the list of terrorist individuals and organisations approved by the United Arab Emirates and it…

Circular 2/2017 on UAE terrorist list (markets)

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

SCA circular to licensed securities and commodities markets concerning the list of terrorist individuals and organisations approved by the United Arab Emirates and its up…

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.

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: “Instantly report the actions taken to freeze accounts to the Securities and Commodities Authority”
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 →