goAML Registration and Reporting in the UAE
From goAML registration to reports that stand up to review.
Adventant supports UAE businesses with goAML registration, subscription to the EOCN notification service and regulatory reporting. We help authorised compliance officers prepare, assess and file reports to the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit, and prepare semi-annual reports, so that each submission is accurate, timely and supported by a clear record.
Who it is for: Businesses registering on goAML for the first time, and officers who prepare reports to the UAE FIU.
What is goAML?
goAML is the online platform used to register with, and file reports to, the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit. Registration gives your business access to the platform. It does not by itself make your business compliant: customer checks, monitoring, training and record-keeping still have to be in place.
The compliance challenge
Registration is straightforward once the right information and authorised users are in place, but errors in setup can delay access. Reporting is harder: a report has to be complete, consistent with your records and filed on time, and the decision to file needs a documented rationale.
Different businesses file different report types, so it matters to know which apply to your activities.
What this service covers
- goAML registration
- Registering your business on goAML with the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit, including authorised users and roles.
- EOCN subscription
- Subscribing to the Executive Office for Control and Non-Proliferation notification service, so you are told when sanctions lists change.
- Filing reports through goAML
- Preparing, checking and filing the reports that apply to your business, with the rationale for each decision recorded.
- Semi-annual reports
- Preparing semi-annual compliance reports where your supervisor requires them, using figures that match your records.
Report types we help with
- STR (Suspicious Transaction Report)
- Filed when there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a transaction is linked to money laundering, terrorist financing or another crime.
- SAR (Suspicious Activity Report)
- Filed for suspicious activity or behaviour that is not tied to a specific transaction, such as an attempted or declined relationship.
- REAR (Real Estate Activity Report)
- Filed by real estate agents and brokers for property transactions that meet the conditions set by their supervisor, such as certain payments in cash or virtual assets.
- DPMSR (Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Report)
- Filed by dealers in precious metals and stones for cash transactions at or above the threshold set by their supervisor.
- CNMR (Confirmed Name Match Report)
- Filed when screening confirms a match against the UAE Local Terrorist List or the UN Consolidated List, after the required freezing measures have been applied.
- PNMR (Partial Name Match Report)
- Filed when screening finds a potential match that cannot be confirmed or ruled out, with the relationship or transaction suspended while it is reviewed.
- Other report types
- Some sectors and situations call for other reports. We confirm which apply to your business before anything is filed.
What the service includes
- Preparing for and supporting goAML registration, including user and role set-up
- Confirming the report types that apply to your activities
- Helping prepare suspicious transaction and suspicious activity reports (STRs and SARs)
- Supporting other report types that apply to your sector, such as sanctions name match reports and reports for real estate agents and precious metals and stones dealers
- Subscribing to the EOCN notification service for sanctions list updates
- Preparing semi-annual reports where your supervisor requires them
- Checking reports for completeness and consistency with your records before submission
- Recording the rationale for each reporting decision
- Tracking open regulator requests and submissions
Scope and boundaries
- Authorised compliance officers decide whether and when to file. We prepare and assess, and the decision stays with the officer.
- Registration and reporting requirements differ by sector and supervisor, so we confirm yours first.
- We file only with your authorisation and agreed access.
How the engagement works
- 01
Confirm requirements
Establish whether you must register and which reports apply to your activities.
- 02
Prepare to register
Gather the documents and identify the authorised users.
- 03
Register and set up
Complete registration and set up user access and roles.
- 04
Prepare reports
Draft, assess and check each report against your records.
- 05
Submit and record
File, keep confirmations and retain the rationale for the decision.
Who needs this service
- Businesses that need to register on goAML
- Compliance Officers and MLROs preparing STRs, SARs and other reports
- DNFBPs with sector-specific report types
- Firms that want reports quality-checked before submission
Requirements depend on your supervisor and licence category. Start with the page for your regulator:
Regulatory context
The UAE Financial Intelligence Unit receives reports of suspicious activity and other prescribed reports through goAML. Which businesses must register, and which reports they must file, depends on the sector and supervisor.
Report types, thresholds, forms and procedures can change, so check current requirements on the UAE FIU and EOCN websites.
General information, not legal advice. Check current requirements with your supervisor.
Frequently asked questions
Does goAML registration make us compliant?
No. Registration gives access to the platform. You still need customer due diligence, monitoring, training, record-keeping and a documented reporting process.
Which reports do we need to file?
It depends on your activities and supervisor. Most supervised businesses may need to file suspicious transaction or activity reports, and some sectors have additional report types. We help you confirm which apply.
Who decides whether to file a report?
Your appointed Compliance Officer or MLRO, in consultation with senior management where appropriate. We help prepare and assess the report.
What do you need to start registration?
Typically your trade licence or authorisation, ownership details and the details of the officer and any other users who will access the platform. We confirm the exact list for your business.
Other services
Outsourced MLRO Service
Experienced oversight where an external appointment is permitted.
Governance Support for Your MLRO
Support for the team you already have.
Operational Outsourcing
Screening, customer risk assessment and ongoing monitoring, handled for you.
Independent AML Audits / Reviews
Independent assurance over your controls.
Regulatory Inspection Support
Support before, during and after regulatory scrutiny.
Grievance Filing (Fine Waiver)
A clear, evidenced grievance against an AML penalty.
Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessment
Understand where your real risk sits.
AML / CFT / CPF Framework
Policies and procedures reflecting your actual work.
AML Training
A team that understands its responsibilities.
AML Software (TruDiligent)
TruDiligent, set up around your compliance process.