The Abu Dhabi Media Office has announced that Major Saad Ahmed Al Marzooqi has been selected as the first Emirati to join FATF's International Co-operation Review Team — a milestone appointment that reflects the UAE's growing credibility on global financial crime enforcement.
Who Is Major Saad Ahmed Al Marzooqi?
Maj Al Marzooqi serves as head of the international cases branch at Abu Dhabi Police. Over a 15-year career, he has uncovered 183 money laundering cases linked to drugs and financial embezzlement, and was recognised on the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 40 Under 40 list for outstanding law enforcement leadership.
What Is FATF and the International Co-operation Review Team?
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1989 and tasked with promoting the anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) agenda globally. Its International Co-operation Review Team works directly with countries to identify and address deficiencies in their financial crime prevention frameworks.
Maj Al Marzooqi will assist nations in correcting gaps in their financial crime strategies. An upcoming mission to Africa is already on his schedule, where he will participate in evaluating the action plan of a specific country.
UAE's Journey Off the FATF Grey List
The appointment comes months after a landmark achievement: on 23 February 2024, the UAE was formally removed from FATF's list of "Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring" — commonly known as the UAE FATF grey list. The country had been placed on that list in March 2022 following findings of strategic deficiencies in its AML and CFT framework.
Removal required the UAE to implement all 15 of FATF's recommendations, including establishing a dedicated executive office to counter money laundering, creating a specialist financial crimes court, and strengthening international cooperation mechanisms for information exchange.
Pride and Commitment
Expressing pride at the appointment, Maj Al Marzooqi said his selection underscores the UAE's sustained commitment to combating financial crimes. The role confirms that the country's regulatory upgrades have been recognised at the highest international level.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed chairs the Higher Committee Overseeing the National Strategy for Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting Financing of Terrorism, providing senior-level government oversight of the UAE's ongoing AML and CFT agenda.
