Speaking at the 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, senior officials unveiled a raft of new technologies designed to harden the UAE’s frontiers against financial crime and illicit trade. Drones now inspect ships and containers at seaports and airports, while human-in-the-loop artificial-intelligence engines screen invoices, build risk profiles and flag suspicious cargo movements in real time, Gulf News reported on 29 September. Maryam Amer of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) said AI systems automatically cross-match cash-declaration data with shipment manifests to detect potential money-laundering routes. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism is running parallel AI audits covering 25,000 companies a year, focusing enforcement resources on the highest-risk entities. Abu Dhabi Police outlined how blockchain-analysis platforms now trace crypto flows linked to fraud or sanctions evasion, complementing camera- and sensor-based monitoring of physical “hotspots”. Training simulators using virtual-reality crime scenarios are being deployed to upskill officers. For multinational firms the tech upgrade promises faster but more forensic cargo clearance: compliant operators should see smoother processing, but paperwork inconsistencies or under-declared values are more likely to be intercepted. Mobility managers bringing in household goods, exhibition material or hand-carried equipment should ensure HS codes, invoices and letters of authority tally exactly with customs submissions. The initiative aligns with the UAE’s commitments under the Financial Action Task Force follow-up process and buttresses its bid to become a global logistics and financial hub. Companies relocating staff or regional headquarters to the Emirates can expect tighter KYC checks, but also greater confidence that supply chains are protected from illicit infiltration.
Source: Gulf News
