Qatar has reinforced its commitment to regional financial security by sending a high-level delegation to the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force – MENAFATF’s 42nd Plenary, held in Rabat, Morocco, on May 18, 2026.
The National Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Committee (NAMLC) and the Qatar Financial Information Unit (QFIU) represented the country at the gathering. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Mubarak Al-Thani, Head of the QFIU and NAMLC member, led the Qatari delegation. NAMLC Secretary Mohammed Sareea Rashid Al Kaabi joined him, along with a team of specialists and technical experts.
Delegations from across MENAFATF member states attended the plenary, as did representatives from key regional and international organisations.
What the MENAFATF’s 42nd Plenary Covered?
Delegates tackled a wide-ranging agenda focused on strengthening financial crime frameworks across the region. Discussions centered on enhanced follow-up reports, the upcoming third round of mutual evaluations, and shared experiences among member nations.
The session also addressed MENAFATF’s forward-looking action plans and explored deeper cooperation with regional and international bodies. Core themes running through the agenda included Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), and Countering Proliferation Financing (CPF).
Delegates left with a set of concrete decisions and recommendations. These aim to sharpen the effectiveness of national financial crime systems and bolster the region’s ability to tackle new and evolving threats — all in line with international standards and established best practices.
Before the main plenary convened, working groups, committees, and affiliated forums held a series of remote preparatory meetings. These sessions worked through the technical points on the agenda and shaped the recommendations brought forward to the full plenary.
Qatar’s Broader Commitment in MENAFATF
Qatar’s attendance was not routine. The country actively engages with MENAFATF. This reflects a clear strategy — advancing regional cooperation while aligning its national framework with global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards.
Qatar is steadily strengthening its domestic defenses. It targets money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. Forums like this plenary give Qatar a platform to contribute, exchange knowledge, and improve.