A compilation of guides, how-to's, tips and more from CCL Academy's highly professional subject matter experts who have significant industry/practitioner experience.
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AI and money laundering: red flags and how firms can respond
AI presents both a challenge and an opportunity for compliance professionals. On the one hand, AI money laundering is now a real operational risk: criminals use AI to fake identities, fabricate documents and structure transactions to evade traditional controls. On... -
Building an effective compliance programme: what the DFSA’s thematic review expects from your firm
An effective compliance programme puts two things at its centre: compliance risk and senior management accountability. Around them sit seven elements: controls and supervision, policies and procedures, advice, training, monitoring, regulatory relations and reporting. These are the areas where the... -
AI in Financial Crime Compliance: Adoption, Governance and Accountability
With AI here to stay, the Mills Review frames the challenge for financial crime professionals: "The question is no longer whether AI should be used, but who AI is going to serve?" AI is evolving fast, changing not only within... -
DFSA Conduct Principles: Four things your firm should have in place before 1 July
The DFSA’s 1st July implementation date for the extension of the Conduct Principles is here, and firms need to ensure that they are fully prepared for the change. In this article, Nigel Sydenham outlines four key things that firms should... -
Key areas to consider in response to the UAE’s AML requirements
As the UAE’s Anti-Money Laundering requirements continue to evolve, MLROs and Compliance Officers play an important role in ensuring that their Boards and Executive Teams respond effectively to the regulator’s expectations in relation to governance and oversight. In this article,... -
What the UAE’s AML Strategy Means for Boards and Compliance Leaders
At the launch of the UAE National Strategy for Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF) and Counter Proliferation Financing (CPF) for 2024-2027, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated, ‘‘The UAE is committed to staying ahead of... -
Who do the DFSA Conduct Principles apply to?
The new DFSA Conduct Principles (effective 1 July 2026) extend the personal accountability regime to a wider range of individuals working in DFSA-authorised firms. The application of the Conduct Principles depends on the nature of an individual’s role. This flowchart... -
The DFSA, Suitability and Thematic Reviews: What firms can do now
In its November 2025 Dear SEO letter, the DFSA announced that it would be undertaking thematic reviews on the issues of Suitability, Fund Platforms and Brokerage: Oversight of Trading Environment. The letter also highlighted the growing significance of thematic reviews... -
Training and the DFSA’s Approach to Conduct Principles
The DFSA proposed amending its approach to Licenced Functions and Authorised Individuals in its March 2025 Consultation Paper 165, highlighting the importance of targeted training and the need for staff to understand what the Conduct Principles “mean for them in... -
CASS Compliance: How has it evolved and what has caused the uptick in requests for CASS training?
In this article, Peter Haines discusses the evolution of CASS Compliance, how it was perceived then vs how it is perceived now, and what might be leading firms to spend more resources on CASS training. -
The DFSA’s Business Plan: A Focus on Sustainability and Climate Risk
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) recently published its Business Plan for 2025-26. The Business Plan sets out the DFSA’s ‘Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2025-2027’ and states that one of the focus areas for 2025-26 is to work with other UAE... -
What led TD Bank to receive the largest fine to date under AML law, and what should financial institutions do now?
On October 10th 2024, US Attorney General, Merrick B Garland, announced that TD Bank had pleaded guilty to multiple felonies under the Bank Secrecy Act and Money Laundering Conspiracy violations. TD Bank agreed to pay a total penalty of just...