EU Drops UAE and Gibraltar from Money‑Laundering Grey List—Trade and Compliance Gains Loom

The European Union has struck the UAE and Gibraltar from its AML grey list after FATF delisted them in 2024 . The vote, completed this week, eases financial scrutiny and enhances credibility for both jurisdictions.

Key Highlights:

• Reduced red tape: Banks and investors face lower compliance burdens when dealing with UAE or Gibraltar .
• Trade leverage: The UAE viewed grey-list status as a barrier in EU trade talks; delisting may boost diplomatic and economic momentum .
• Parliament dynamics: Some MEPs were concerned about real-estate transparency in the UAE; agreement hinged on a commitment to revisit Russia’s grey-list status by the end of the year .

Further shuffled: eight other countries also left the list, while ten new ones—like Monaco and Kenya—were added .

Why it matters:

• Supports smoother trade and investment flows with the UAE.
• Reflects progress in global AML standards.
• Signals that further updates—possibly including Russia—are likely by year-end.