Ali Faisal Ba'Alawi has been appointed Head of the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit by the Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) (FIU). Following the creation of the Executive Office to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in February 2021, this appointment is the next phase in the execution of the UAE's National AML/CFT Strategy and National Action Plan, a program of reforms aimed at boosting the UAE's anti-financial crime mechanism.

Since March 2018, Ba'Alawi has served as acting head of the FIU, bringing more than ten years of expertise to the position.

“Since last two years, Ali has relied on his extensive technical expertise and front-line experience to set a strong mandate for the FIU's structure, status, and all operational aspects of its administration,” said Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the UAE Central Bank. Every major feature is focused on specific, actionable goals. He has also worked diligently to establish successful partnerships between public and private entities that are focused on mutual confidence, justice, and reciprocity. This includes strengthening the UAE's anti-money laundering defenses by expanding alliances with foreign partners, investing in the FIU's expertise and capabilities, and accelerating the implementation of technology.

“The FIU plays a crucial role in the UAE's initiatives against financial crime. It collects fraudulent transaction files, evaluates them, and distributes the resulting information to local law enforcement authorities, and analyzing, monitoring, and understanding the evolution of current and emerging narratives of financial crime across sectors in the jurisdiction. The creation of a functional Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is a critical step in fighting financial crime and a pillar of the UAE's National Action Plan. The UAE pledges to provide the FIU with all requisite political support to ensure its long-term success,” said Hamid Al Zaabi, Director-General of the UAE Executive Office.