MENAFATF Participates in Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime
Fahad Shabbir (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 24th Aug, 2026) Hamid Saif Al Zaabi, President of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), participated in the 43rd Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime, held from 23rd to 30th August under the theme, “Asset Recovery and the Rule of Law: Taking the Profit Out of Crime – From Rhetoric to Results.”
His participation forms part of MENAFATF’s efforts to strengthen its international partnerships, expand cooperation with organizations and entities involved in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, and exchange expertise on emerging risks and trends in financial crime. His involvement also included delivering a keynote address highlighting MENAFATF’s role in supporting its member countries and strengthening regional and international cooperation to combat financial crime.
Al Zaabi stated that strengthening international partnerships is a core aspect of MENAFATF’s work, especially considering the rapid evolution and cross-border nature of financial crime. He noted that closer collaboration with international partners facilitates the exchange of expertise, capacity building, and the effective implementation of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Standards across the region.
"MENAFATF is committed to enhancing its presence at leading events focused on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and fostering practical partnerships that facilitate knowledge and expertise exchange," said Al Zaabi. "These partnerships contribute to developing more efficient and effective responses to shared risks and upholding the integrity and stability of financial systems."
Al Zaabi emphasized the significance of the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime as a platform gathering policymakers, law enforcement agencies, supervisory authorities, compliance experts, representatives from the financial sector, and academics. Such events foster a shared understanding of current challenges and translate international discussions into practical, applicable solutions.
On the sidelines of the symposium, Al Zaabi met with Giles Thomson, President of FATF. The two sides discussed strengthening cooperation and coordination between FATF and MENAFATF, supporting shared priorities, and expanding expertise exchange to enhance regional and international efforts against financial crime. During the meeting, Al Zaabi reaffirmed MENAFATF’s backing for the priorities of the United Kingdom’s FATF Presidency for 2026-2028, which aim to bolster the global response to fraud and its associated money laundering and terrorist financing.