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MENA & Africa · Saudi Arabia SAMA

SAMA AML/CTF Guide for Financial Institutions

RulesIn Force
View official source
Issuing authority
SAMA administrative sanctions plus criminal penalties under separate AML law
Effective date
Current framework; reinforced through 2024-2025 FATF mutual evaluation
Scope
SAMA administrative sanctions plus criminal penalties under separate AML law

Key requirements

Saudi Arabia's AML rulebook for banks, finance companies and money services. Derives from the Anti-Money Laundering Law, Law on Combating Terrorism Crimes and Financing, and Implementing Regulations. Covers KYC, beneficial ownership identification, PEP screening, STR filing to SAFIU (Saudi Arabia's FIU), correspondent banking and sanctions screening. The AML Permanent Committee at SAMA in Riyadh oversees the national framework.

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