UAE deploys AI, drones and crypto tracking to stay ahead of financial crime
Abu Dhabi: Drones over ships. Algorithms reading invoices. Police tracing crypto. AI screening more than 25,000 entities. In the UAE, AI is no longer an experiment in safeguarding the financial system. The question is moving away from 'should we continue' with AI as a proof of concept, to actual scalable solutions that start benefiting us," Mahmoud Alsalah, Partner and Financial Crime Compliance…
Abu Dhabi is deploying AI, drones, and crypto tracking technologies to combat financial crime more effectively. Mahmud Alsalah, a PwC Middle East partner, explained that AI is no longer experimental and is being used for scalable solutions. UAE customs, Abu Dhabi Police, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and PwC Middle East shared real-life cases demonstrating the practical applications of AI.
Drones over ships and containers are now used for inspections, and AI helps build risk profiles and flag suspicious patterns such as unusual invoice values. Cross-border cash declarations are also monitored by AI to alert customs officers to potential money laundering. Abu Dhabi Police employ AI in crime prevention, countercrime, and officer training, with a national threat assessment focusing on virtual assets like crypto.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism handles around 25,000 entities annually, using AI to streamline inspections and focus on suspicious behavior indicators, including crypto and virtual assets. The combination of AI, drones, and crypto tracking technologies is helping the UAE stay ahead of financial crime.
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