Presidency

Leadership elected by the MENAFATA Plenary.

The MENAFATF Plenary elects from amongst its members the President and Vice President with expertise in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. They remain in position for one year, provided that the President and Vice President are not from the same country.

H.E Hamid Saif Al Zaabi

Current President

UAE

Nominating jurisdiction

Mr. Sulaiman AL Jabrin

Current Secretariat

Bahrain

Nominating jurisdiction

President

H.E. Hamid Saif Al Zaabi

A strategic vision rooted in effectiveness, innovation, and partnership.

H.E. Hamid Saif Al Zaabi assumed the Presidency of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force on 1 January 2026, following his tenure as Vice President in 2025.

He leads MENAFATF at a defining juncture for the region — the launch of the third round of mutual evaluations — with a presidential vision centred on readiness, governance, and innovation to advance effectiveness and strengthen regional integration with the FATF Global Network.

A highly respected leader with over two decades of experience in financial integrity, institutional governance, and international cooperation, H.E. Al Zaabi has been instrumental in positioning the United Arab Emirates as a trusted, effective, and forward-looking jurisdiction in the global fight against financial crime.

Readiness

Governance

Innovation

Regional Integration

National leadership

He led the UAE National AML/CFT Team through the FATF mutual evaluation process, overseeing the successful implementation of the FATF Action Plan and demonstrating the UAE’s effectiveness and sustained compliance. H.E. Al Zaabi currently chairs the National Team for the upcoming mutual evaluation, continuing to guide the country’s comprehensive preparedness efforts and institutional alignment with global standards.

Nationally, he serves as Secretary General and Vice-Chair of the National Committee for Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism, and Countering the Financing of Proliferation, Head of the UAE National AML/CFT Team, and Member of the Higher Committee for Overseeing the National Strategy. He also oversees the implementation of the UAE’s National AML/CFT/CPF Strategy 2024–2027.

International role

Internationally, H.E. Al Zaabi participates in FATF meetings in his capacity as President of MENAFATF, representing the MENA region within the FATF Global Network. In this role, he contributes to strengthening coordination among the regional bodies and promoting the exchange of expertise and policy alignment in the global AML/CFT framework.

He also works with several FATF-Style Regional Bodies, including the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, the Eurasian Group, and the GCC AML/CFT Working Group, strengthening global cooperation and policy coherence within the FATF network.

Education and recognition

H.E. Al Zaabi holds a Master’s degree in Leadership Development from Bangor University in the United Kingdom, a Master’s in Human Resources Management from Abu Dhabi University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Legal and Police Sciences from the Police College in Abu Dhabi.

In 2024, he was awarded the Order of Zayed II, First Class, by H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, in recognition of his distinguished contributions to financial security and international cooperation. He was also listed among the Top 100 Most Influential Arabs 2024 by JobX Dubai and Arabian Business.

With a strategic vision rooted in effectiveness, innovation, and partnership, H.E. Al Zaabi continues to guide the UAE and the MENAFATF region toward a new era of excellence and leadership in global financial integrity.

Vice President