The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) has ramped up scrutiny on financial transfers to the United Arab Emirates, effectively placing its Gulf neighbor in the same category as high-risk jurisdictions for money laundering. At least six business leaders have reported payment delays or blocked transactions since mid-May 2026. These disruptions began weeks after the UAE officially withdrew from OPEC on April 28, 2026, deepening tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia is the UAE’s largest non-oil trading partner in the region. Some companies are already exploring workarounds by routing funds through intermediary countries like Bahrain.
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