About Us

The government of the State of Qatar ensured at an early stage that all the State’s relevant authorities establish effective regulatory systems in accordance with the internationally recognized standards and that all authorities and entities comply with the requirements and obligations stipulated by AML/CFT laws and regulatory controls. The State of Qatar is a founding member of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF). Qatar is also member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), represented by the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to ensure the best implementation of international requirements and local laws. The National Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Committee (NAMLC) was established pursuant to law no. 28/2002 and was re-established in accordance with law no. 4/2010 on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing on 18 March 2010, in accordance with the FATF standards applied then, noting that further amendments were introduced through Law no. 20/2019, enacted lately. .
NAMLC is chaired by H.E. the Deputy Governor of the Qatar Central Bank. Its members include representatives of 15 government authorities concerned with AML/CFT, such as law enforcement authorities, regulators of financial and non-financial sectors and other AML/CFT relevant government institutions.
NAMLC holds its meetings periodically and the NAMLC Secretary is responsible for the technical and administrative organisation of NAMLC meetings and meeting agendas. He is in charge of preparing follow-up reports addressed to regional and international authorities in coordination with the NAMLC members. He is also responsible for the development of the NAMLC annual report in coordination with the Chairman and the members, and the submittal thereof report to H.E. the Governor of the Qatar Central Bank. The NAMLC assumes a prominent role in coordinating between various State authorities concerned with combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing; communicates and cooperates with regional and international peers to unify AML efforts. NAMLC also assumes a significant role in developing AML/CFT human resources through creating and hosting different training programs and supervising the national training centre which was established for this purpose.

Our Vision

Develop an integrated system that positions Qatar as a regional and international pioneer in combating illicit financing, protecting the financial system’s safety and stability and enhancing Qatar’s position as a regional and international financial centre.
Qatar endeavours to enhance its position as a regional and international financial center and to ensure prosperity for its citizens. To achieve these objectives, intensive efforts are required to support the national financial system and protect it from any threats, including illicit financing, through investing in human resources, building an international pool of subject expert matters in illicit financing, working with national and international authorities, and engaging the private sector and citizens to combat illicit financing. Competent authorities also focus on the execution of precautionary measures to prevent any abuse of their systems and enhance transparency to detect any suspicious activity, in addition to developing and maintaining enforcement, investigation, and prosecution capabilities.

Our Functions and Competences

NAMLC is responsible for developing an efficient and solid framework to combat illicit financing and protect the national and global financial system, Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) and non-profit organisations from abuse; supporting economic development through the implementation of best practices and international standards relevant to AML/CFT and combating the proliferation of weapons.

NAMLC’s functions and competences include the following:
1. Prepare the National Risk Assessment (NRA) on money laundering, terrorism financing, and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, supervise the NRA completion, and document, circulate and update the NRA results. Competent authorities commit to provide the NAMLC with the required data and information and assist in the achievement of the assessment and the execution of its findings.
2. Develop and follow up the execution of a national strategy to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the State of Qatar, based on the NRA findings and in accordance with the applied international standards.
3. Supervise the coordination, cooperation and exchange of information process between the relevant authorities, in relation to policy making and execution; develop and execute activities aiming to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in line with the personal data and information protection measures, and other similar provisions.
4. Review and follow-up international developments in relation to combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; provide recommendations to the relevant authorities on the development of their regulatory instructions and controls and propose the required legislative amendments in accordance with such developments.
5. Represent the State of Qatar in meetings and activities organised by AML/CFT regional and international organisations.
6. Coordinate with the National Counter-Terrorism Committee (NCTC) in relation to international, regional and mutual agreements relevant to combating terrorism financing.
7. Coordinate with the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA) in relation to the execution of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
8. Collect, classify, and analyse AML/CFT-related data and statistics; request relevant data from competent entities, whether these entities are NAMLC members or not, in order to use such data and statistics in the development of the National Risk Assessment, the AML/CFT national strategy and other relevant purposes.
9. Coordinate and host AML/CFT national training programs.

Organisational Structure

The NAMLC Secretariat consists of several departments that help deliver its responsibilities and functions.

NAMLC Members