goAML is the UAE’s official platform for reporting suspicious transactions and activities under anti-money-laundering law, and registration on it is mandatory for businesses classified as Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) — including real estate brokers and agents, dealers in precious metals and stones, and certain corporate service providers. Our goAML Registration / Compliance service manages registration and the ongoing reporting obligations that follow.
What's Included
We confirm whether your business falls within a DNFBP category requiring goAML registration, prepare and submit the registration application, and set up your ongoing compliance framework — including a written AML policy, customer due diligence procedures, and staff awareness on when a Suspicious Activity Report or Suspicious Transaction Report must be filed.
For businesses that are already registered but uncertain whether their internal processes meet current requirements, we also review and strengthen existing AML policies and procedures rather than building from scratch unnecessarily. Where broader financial records or accounting processes need attention, our Accounting Services UAE team can also support the underlying accounting and reporting requirements.
We also review your policy periodically as UAE AML regulations evolve, so a framework that was compliant when first built doesn’t quietly fall behind as requirements are updated.
Why goAML Compliance Matters
UAE regulators actively enforce AML obligations on DNFBPs, with penalties for non-registration, and separately for failing to report a suspicious transaction once registered, that can be significant. Beyond the direct penalty risk, a documented AML compliance framework is also something banks and business partners increasingly expect to see before extending facilities or entering a relationship.
Because DNFBP status is activity-based rather than universal, many qualifying businesses are unaware they fall within scope until a compliance check or licence renewal specifically raises the question. This makes an early review of the applicable Other Tax & Compliance Services particularly useful for businesses that are unsure which regulatory obligations apply to them.
Demonstrating a proactive, well-documented compliance history also tends to put a business in a considerably better position if a regulator ever does raise a query, compared to a business with no clear record of its process.
Who Needs This Service
Real estate brokers and agents, dealers in precious metals and stones, corporate service providers, and other businesses falling within the UAE’s defined DNFBP categories under AML law.
What We'll Need From You
Your trade licence, a description of your business activity so we can confirm DNFBP classification, and details of your current customer onboarding and transaction processes.
We may also review relevant accounting records, transaction information and existing compliance documentation where these are necessary to understand your business risk profile. Businesses that need broader financial record support can also use our Accounting Services UAE services alongside their AML compliance work.
Our Process
Where an existing business is already registered, we first review the current setup before recommending changes. This avoids replacing documents or procedures that are already suitable and instead focuses on closing genuine compliance gaps.
For businesses requiring several regulatory services, goAML compliance can also be coordinated with the wider Other Tax & Compliance Services offered by our team.
Getting Started
Tell us about your business activity and we will confirm whether goAML registration applies to you and what your ongoing compliance obligations will look like.
Building an AML Policy That Fits Your Business
A generic, boilerplate AML policy copied from a template rarely reflects how your specific business actually operates, and can leave gaps a regulator or auditor later flags. We build your policy around your actual customer types, transaction patterns and risk profile, so it is something your team can realistically follow rather than a document that sits unused.
The policy should also work alongside the business’s wider financial controls and record-keeping processes. Where necessary, we can coordinate AML procedures with Accounting Services UAE so that customer records, transactions and supporting documentation are maintained consistently.
For businesses that need help with several regulatory requirements rather than goAML alone, our broader Other Tax & Compliance Services provide a central point for addressing related UAE compliance needs.
Get Expert Help for Your Business
Talk to an FTA-approved tax consultant today. Free consultation, no obligation — we’ll tell you exactly what your business needs.
Staff Training on AML Obligations
Registration and a written policy only go so far if frontline staff don’t understand when a transaction needs escalating. We provide practical staff training on recognising red flags and following your reporting process correctly.
goAML Registration Timeline
Once a business is confirmed as falling within a DNFBP category, registration should be completed promptly rather than delayed, since the obligation to report suspicious activity applies from the point the activity triggering DNFBP status begins, not from the date of registration itself.
Periodic AML Risk Assessments
Beyond initial registration, DNFBPs are expected to periodically reassess their money-laundering risk exposure as their customer base and business activities evolve. We can build this reassessment into an ongoing compliance relationship rather than leaving it as a one-time exercise.
goAML Compliance During Due Diligence
Banks and larger business partners increasingly ask DNFBPs to demonstrate their AML compliance as part of onboarding or due diligence. Having a documented, active goAML registration and a working compliance framework in place makes this a straightforward request to satisfy rather than a scramble.
goAML Fees and Ongoing Costs
Beyond our service fee for setup and ongoing support, goAML registration itself does not carry a direct government fee, though maintaining compliant AML processes does represent an ongoing operational commitment we help you plan for realistically.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession — a defined category under UAE AML law including real estate brokers, dealers in precious metals and stones, and certain corporate service providers, among others.
It depends on whether your business activity falls within a defined DNFBP category — we can confirm this for you based on your specific activity.
UAE regulators apply penalties for failure to register, in addition to any penalty for failing to report a suspicious transaction once the obligation applies.
A formal report filed through goAML when a business identifies a transaction or activity that raises money-laundering or terrorist-financing concerns under UAE AML rules.
Both — we set up your initial registration and can support the ongoing policy, due diligence and reporting obligations that follow.