Best AML Screening Software in the UAE in 2026
- azakaw
- 5 days ago
- 13 min read
Choosing the best AML screening software in the UAE is challenging, especially with strict regulations from the CBUAE, DFSA, and FSRA, plus FATF pressure on financial institutions and DNFBPs.
To help you choose the right solution, this guide compares the top AML screening tools in the UAE, highlighting UAE-specific requirements.
Our guide includes
A quick comparison table
Key features to look for in UAE AML tools
Detailed reviews of the top AML screening software providers in the UAE
A breakdown of why Azakaw is leading the market for KYC, KYB, and AML compliance in the region
Use this comparison to find the best AML screening solution in the UAE that suits your business needs.
The best AML screening solutions in the UAE (quick comparison)
Software | UAE Compliance | Local Lists | KYB/UBO | Transaction Monitoring | Best For |
azakaw | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Banks, fintech, crypto, real estate |
ComplyAdvantage | Partial | No | Yes | Partial | Fintechs, SMEs |
LexisNexis | Partial | No | Yes | Yes | Large banks, complex workflows |
World-Check (LSEG) | Yes (Global) | No | Yes (Data) | No | EDD-heavy organisations |
Amlock (TCS) | Partial | Partial | Yes | Yes | Traditional banks |
FICO AML | No | No | Limited | Yes | Tier 1 global banks |
IDNow | Yes (KYC only) | No | No | No | Identity verification only |
Why AML Screening matters in the UAE
In the UAE, AML screening serves a purpose that extends beyond regulatory compliance. It plays a critical role in maintaining economic & national security stability.
Failure to abide by these rules could cause serious harm to your business; hence, a tech-savvy AML strategy is required to counter any regulatory hurdles.
Regulatory pressure from DFSA, FSRA, and FATF
The AML in the UAE fully adheres to the FATF's standards, and this adherence is reflected in the country's top regulators exerting significant pressure.
As such, the UAE Central Bank (CBUAE), the DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority) within the DIFC & FSRA (Financial Services Regulatory Authority) within ADGM have all stepped up enforcement of these regulations, requiring regulated entities to implement demonstrable AML systems.
Increasing risk of financial crimes across various industries
While innovation propels the UAE's economy, it also puts the country under the scrutiny of financial criminals who exploit its business opportunities.
For example:
Fintech & Payments: high transfer speed & cross-border nature
Real Estate: a potential hiding place for criminal money
Crypto (Virtual Assets): risks posed by anonymity concerns when dealing with virtual currency
Such factors necessitate sophisticated AML software capable of running deep & frequent risk checks on specific individuals/transactions.
Sanctions, PEPs, and Adverse Media checks for high-risk jurisdictions
At the heart of this global financial hub lies a crossroads that links East with West! Your business clientele originates from virtually every corner of the planet.
For effective global sanctions & PEP compliance purposes, an equally powerful solution is needed; one capable of identifying matches with both global watchlists (OFAC, EU, UN) as well as national blacklists, and providing instant adverse media reports on the individual or company in question.
What is AML Screening and how it works
AML screening involves verifying both individual and corporate clients against various international as well as domestic blacklists. This verification forms an essential part of your KYC & KYB duties.
KYC vs KYB screening
It is important to understand what screening involves from both perspectives. Here is a breakdown of some key differences:
KYC (Know Your Customer)
When dealing with individuals, the process involves checking identity documents, such as passports or Emirates IDs, and then cross-referencing them with sanctions lists, PEP databases, and adverse media (unfavorable news) to identify any possible risk factors.
Read also: What is a PEP?
KYB (Know Your Business)
The process becomes more involved when dealing with corporate clients.
Not only do you need to verify the legitimacy of the business itself (this can involve checking official trade or company registries to confirm if a particular business is genuine), but there's another important step as well – identifying its Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs).
To help you with this, there is a great solution: a digital KYB solution, a platform that ensures everything runs smoothly.
Screening targets: PEPs, sanctions, watchlists, UBOs
Screening software should be able to cover several important targets, including:
Sanctions: These include both international and domestic sanctions lists. If a match occurs, it becomes a "stop" order and must be reported in accordance with regulatory requirements.
PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons): While this is not a signal to stop, it does indicate high risk and calls for Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD).
Watchlists & Adverse Media: These include extended lists of wanted individuals and suspects in financial crimes, as well as any negative media that could be related to risk.
UBOs (Ultimate Beneficial Owners): These are the individuals behind companies who must also be screened as thoroughly as any other customer.
When to screen: onboarding, periodic review, transactions
Screening should not be done once but rather should be a continuous process.
Onboarding: This is meant to prevent fraudulent individuals from registering on your platform.
Periodic Review: Customers change over time, and so does the risk associated with them– hence, this calls for re-screening your entire client base at predetermined intervals (e.g., annually for high-risk customers).
Transaction Screening: Real-time screening of payment counterparties during transactions to ensure compliance with sanctions programs by blocking payments to and from designated parties.
Business AML Screening in the UAE (KYB)
KYB, or AML business screening in the UAE, is a major focus for UAE regulators. You are now required not only to have information about your client but also to demonstrate knowledge of his activity & real owners.
UBO identification and verification
This represents the most challenging aspect of KYB. It's necessary to pierce through sophisticated corporate structures, which may potentially consist of shell companies or offshore trusts, for this purpose.
The aim is to identify the actual natural person behind the corporate veil who holds ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) or controls the company.
The use of AML business verification and screening tools is mandatory to comply with the regulations' limits.
Risk-based approach to corporate clients
Not all businesses pose equal risks. A local freelance photographer will have far less risk compared to an international trading company registered in a high-risk jurisdiction and owned by nominee directors.
Your software should therefore enable you to score the risk associated with such businesses, taking into consideration their industry, geography, structure & UBOs.
Integration with the UAE and international registries
For the proper execution of KYB, it is essential to have trustworthy data.
Top-notch screening solutions offer direct API links to national registries (e.g., DIFC, ADGM, mainland registrars) and international databases.
Through this, you will be able to retrieve official company information & cross-check customer-provided details, instead of merely relying on those given by the clients themselves.
What are the key features to look for in the best AML Screening Software?
The key features to look for in an AML screening solution in the UAE include data sources, localisation, accurate name matching, batch screening, ongoing customer monitoring, case management, audit logs, API integration, and onboarding workflows integration.
Together, these features ensure fast, reliable, and regulator-ready AML compliance.
Price is not the only thing worth considering when deciding on AML screening software in the UAE.
Real-time data sources
Every second counts when you're checking your customers against sanctions lists, politically exposed person (PEP) databases, and adverse media. If you only update your information once a day, you could be 24 hours behind the latest developments.
Your AML software should provide you with real-time access to global and local watchlists, enabling you to detect potential risks as they emerge. This includes not only the major international sanctions and PEP lists, but also the lesser-known ones from around the world.
Localisation & Arabic name matching
It also needs to be able to handle Arabic names correctly, including common variations and transliterations (known as "fuzzy logic"), and to check them against all relevant UAE databases, such as those from the FSRA and DFSA.
If you're running or doing business with clients in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, this is absolutely crucial: you can't afford to miss anything if you want to stay on the right side of AML regulations.
Batch screening and continuous monitoring
Batch screening refers to the capability of screening your entire customer database at once. This is important when a new sanction list is issued.
On the other hand, ongoing monitoring means that the system should re-screen your customers automatically daily.
You require instant notifications if a customer who was clean yesterday turns out to be a PEP today or appears on another list of concern.
API and onboarding workflow integration
The software should be able to communicate with other systems within your enterprise.
An effective, well-documented API enables integration of the screening solution into the digital onboarding platform.
This enhances customer experience while reducing workload on your compliance team.
Case management and audit logs
The best AML screening software in the UAE does more than identify potential matches and generate alerts for your team to follow up on.
It also helps you manage these tasks efficiently through various functionalities, such as case management, which enables decision-makers to clear, escalate, or resolve them appropriately.
In addition, they create comprehensive audit logs that cannot be modified for compliance purposes, i.e., to prove to regulators exactly what was checked when asked. This evidence also comes in handy if anything suspicious is discovered after reviewing previous investigations.
What are the best AML Screening software in the UAE?
The leading best sanctions and PEP screening solutions in the UAE are azakaw, ComplyAdvantage, LexisNexis, World-Check, Amlock, FICO, and IDNOW.
Your specific needs, such as ensuring data accuracy throughout every stage of the process, are crucial when selecting the AML screening software in the UAE that best suits your requirements.
1. azakaw
azakaw, one of the emerging top-notch players, is the best AML screening solution in the UAE, and the leading AML/KYC SaaS provider in the region.
It offers a comprehensive suite for compliance, including Digital Identity Verification (KYC), Digital Know Your Business (KYB), plus Transaction monitoring, all aimed at instant risk profiling & detection.
A real bonus of our platform is its no-coding customisation feature, which allows compliance personnel to modify rules/workflows. You won't need a developer.
With AI-powered automation & ready-made onboarding workflows for UAE banks and crypto companies, there are enormous time-saving benefits.
This dynamic risk scoring engine automatically defines who the AML high-risk customers are.
Due to the modular format, customers pay only for what they require, making pricing cost-effective for both small fintech start-ups and big banks.
Pros:
Designed specifically for the UAE market
No coding rules or workflows
KYC, KYB full suite + monitoring all included: it's an end-to-end product
AI Automation
Modular design (purchase only what you need)
Flexible pricing for all company sizes
Cons:
Pricing requires a custom quote, so there is no public "starter" price.
ComplyAdvantage
ComplyAdvantage is an established company that offers a comprehensive range of risk intelligence services.
Its SaaS platform utilises global data to combat financial crime. It includes tools for customer screening, ongoing monitoring, and transaction monitoring – all of which are available to businesses in the UAE.
The main advantage of ComplyAdvantage's service is its extensive database.
While some features are only available with the Enterprise package (which requires a custom quote), the Starter package is available for $119.99 per month.
However, this plan only covers 2,000 entities and does not include transaction or payment monitoring.
Pros:
Extensive global risk intelligence data
Modern SaaS platform
Starter price is publicly available, albeit at a (very) limited level
Cons:
Important features require the expensive Enterprise package
Not as UAE-centric as a local provider
The starter price is very limited
LexisNexis Risk Solutions
LexisNexis offers a range of solutions for financial crime compliance, payment efficiency, fraud prevention, and identity verification. Their AML tools heavily rely on data that can link a person's digital and physical identities.
At the same time, their "Risk Orchestration" platform enables seamless integration with other risk tools that are important for complex AML workflows.
Pricing is available upon request.
Pros:
Data and identity linkage capabilities are second to none
Excellent platform for "risk orchestration" that is useful in complex AML workflows
Suitable for the crypto industry
Cons:
Very expensive
Too complex and specialized for many businesses
World-Check
World-Check, now owned by LSEG, is considered the industry standard for watchlist data.
Their main product is the World-Check database, which is the largest global repository of information on PEPs, sanctions, and adverse media.
Many in the industry consider the quality of World-Check data to be the benchmark for enhanced due diligence (EDD) information.
However, the product is just that: a database. Customers must integrate it with other systems to use it.
Pros:
The benchmark for PEPs, sanctions, and adverse media data
Data quality is second to none
A must-have for any company doing serious EDD
Cons:
Not a software application
Requires additional AML software to function properly
No case management or transaction monitoring included
Amlock by TCS
Azentio's Amlock, formerly known as TCS AML, is a widely used anti-money laundering solution from a trusted vendor.
Some of its key features include a comprehensive library of rule sets that apply in more than 40 countries, as well as the ability to monitor financial transactions both in real-time and after the fact.
Other services include Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), and anti-sanctions. Pricing is available upon request.
Pros:
A well-established solution from a trusted vendor
An extensive rule library
Supports trade-based money laundering compliance
Cons:
May not suit modern businesses looking for an agile, user-friendly solution
A slow, expensive implementation process to use
FICO AML
When people hear the word "FICO," they usually think of credit scores. But the company also provides fraud and compliance services.
One such service is AML, which uses AI and machine learning to find hidden risks associated with money laundering.
A specialised risk management platform scores potential money launderers higher than others because they behave differently from regular customers.
According to our experience, FICO AML is a top AML screening software in the UAE for Tier 1 banks due to its high cost and complexity level.
Pricing for large deployments is available upon request, which means it's likely out of reach for most businesses in the UAE seeking a dedicated AML solution.
Pros
Uses advanced AI and ML for behavioral analytics
Integration with FICO's vast range of risk products
Has been tested at a huge scale– currently protects over four billion accounts worldwide
Cons
This is an enterprise-level product; it will be too complicated and expensive for most businesses in the UAE
It's basically a fraud detection system that's been adapted for AML purposes
It's not an AML software that UAE businesses might need
IDNow
Although IDNow is another leading KYC software solution provider in the UAE. But it's not an anti-money laundering software solution provider. It strictly deals with KYC.
This platform provides a full range of identity verification services. These include fully-automated artificial intelligence (AI)-powered document and identity checks as well as live-video KYC, complete with a human element.
With IDNow, users have the option to perform quick, automated identity verification by submitting identity documents or requesting live-video KYC to verify their identities.
This comprehensive identity verification system ensures that IDNow is suitable for use in diverse regions, including the UAE.
Pros:
A specialized service provider for the identity verification process
Supports thousands of documents from across the globe
Offers an automated and live video KYC verification
Cons:
Does not offer AML services
No transaction monitoring
Does not have any risk model scoring
Why azakaw is the best AML & KYB Screening solution in the UAE
Local watchlist and global sanctions lists
azakaw integrates all major global lists (OFAC, UN, EU, UK) with critical UAE local lists, including the CBUAE watchlist, as well as local law enforcement data.
This ensures that no risks are overlooked. The regulatory compliance solution provides dual coverage for regulated entities in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Modular compliance platform with real-time alerts
Not all businesses will be in a position to incorporate a huge and complicated system right from the onset!
One thing that sets azakaw as the best AML screening solution in the UAE is its modular nature.
A startup fintech can begin by using basic KYC & AML screening services and later add transaction monitoring & KYB over time. You pay as much as you need!
Since all notifications are real-time, it enables your team to respond immediately.
Business onboarding (KYB) plus UBO discovery
A remarkable attribute of azakaw is its ability to mechanize the cumbersome KYB procedure.
The system links up with the registries of the UAE for accessing corporate information.
Using Artificial Intelligence, complex ownership structures are mapped to identify the ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs), who then undergo automatic screening, reducing what would be a multi-day exercise to just minutes.
Suited for crypto, banking, payments, real estate, and fintech firms
Suitable for cryptocurrency, banking, payment processing, real estate, and fintech businesses!
Due to the modular nature of the platform and the fact that the rules are controlled using a no-code system, Azakaw is far from being a 'one-size-fits-all' case.
The UAE has stringent regulations for virtual assets; therefore, crypto businesses rely on them to comply with these regulations. It can also serve as a due diligence screening tool for buyers or sellers in the real estate sector.
By providing a simple API for the fintechs & payment companies, they get a fast compliance onboarding process. In the case of banking, it serves as a complete compliance package.
It is one of the few top AML solutions for banks and fintechs in the UAE that can effectively serve all regulated sectors.
Additional advanced capabilities
Azakaw goes beyond standard AML screening by offering a set of advanced capabilities designed to automate compliance and reduce operational burden.
The platform includes AI-assisted identity verification, real-time decisioning, and automated case management, ensuring faster and more accurate onboarding.
Its AI-powered risk scoring engine evaluates customer behaviour and document data dynamically, adjusting risk profiles in real time.
The system also supports multiple ID verification methods, including document checks, biometric validation, and live verification options, making it suitable for diverse customer journeys.
Additionally, automated data extraction from documents eliminates manual input errors and accelerates KYC/KYB workflows, giving compliance teams a significant efficiency boost.
FAQs
What is AML screening software?
Financial institutions utilize AML screening software to verify their customers against sanctions lists, Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) lists, and other relevant crime lists.
This type of software is mandatory for banks, fintech, and real estate companies, among others, as it helps them comply with laws designed to prevent financial crimes.
Is AML screening mandatory in the UAE?
Yes, AML screening is mandatory for all financial institutions and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) in the UAE. Failure to comply will result in severe penalties.
What is the best business screening solution in the UAE?
The best AML business screening solution in the UAE combines local registry data with UBO identification and worldwide sanctions screening.
If you're looking for a platform that's tailored to your needs, azakaw is a great option. It offers automated KYB and UBO screening solutions designed specifically for the UAE corporate environment.
Does AML screening include UBO verification?
Yes, it does. AML screening involves not only screening business entities but also identifying and verifying their beneficial owners (known as UBOs). Under AML regulations, it is the responsibility of reporting entities to verify the identity of UBOs.
What industries require AML screening software?
Financial institutions, including banks, payment providers, fintech companies, and cryptocurrency exchanges, require AML screening software to comply with regulatory requirements.
In addition, AML screening is mandatory for DNFBPs, which in the UAE includes real estate agents, precious metal and stone dealers, lawyers, accountants, and auditors.
Conclusion
The UAE is an international hub for AML and compliance professionals. This means that when it comes to AML and Know Your Business (KYB) screening, organisations need to ensure they are meeting the highest standards possible.
If you're currently using an outdated AML screening system, you could be putting your business at risk.
As the UAE's best AML screening software, Azakaw can help. We invite you to book a demo today to learn more about our AML solutions tailored to your business needs.
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