UAE Central Bank to Launch Nationwide e-KYC Platform to Boost Digital Onboarding and AML Compliance

The UAE Central Bank (CBUAE) has signed a technical partnership with Swedish technology company Norbloc AB to develop a nationwide unified e-KYC platform aimed at cutting duplication in customer due diligence, lowering compliance costs and strengthening alignment with anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorist financing (AML/CFT) frameworks. Announced on April 15, 2026 and witnessed in Abu Dhabi, the platform is intended to support both traditional financial institutions and fintech firms by delivering faster, more reliable digital onboarding for individuals and businesses while enforcing strict data protection and consent controls.

“The development of the e-KYC Platform represents a strategic transformation towards a more efficient and resilient financial ecosystem,” said Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, assistant governor for banking operations and support services at the CBUAE. “Through this platform, we are enabling the sector to move away from resource‑intensive traditional processes towards progressive digital models that accelerate access to financial services and reduce operational costs.”

The technical partnership agreement was signed by Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri for the CBUAE and Astyanax Kanakakis, CEO of Norbloc AB, with the ceremony witnessed by Khaled Mohamed Balama, governor of the CBUAE, and Ahmed Saeed Al Qamzi, assistant governor for banking and insurance supervision. According to the CBUAE, the platform will streamline Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) procedures and strengthen due diligence through automated workflows and the integration of trusted data sources.

• Parties involved: UAE Central Bank (CBUAE) and Norbloc AB.
• Signatories: Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri (CBUAE) and Astyanax Kanakakis (Norbloc AB).
• Witnesses: Khaled Mohamed Balama (Governor, CBUAE) and Ahmed Saeed Al Qamzi (Assistant Governor, CBUAE).
• Announced: April 15, 2026, Abu Dhabi (WAM).
• Core aims: reduce duplicate customer due diligence, cut compliance costs, improve AML/CFT alignment, and speed up digital onboarding for individuals and businesses.

Norbloc’s CEO underscores the platform’s technical orientation toward real‑time, consent‑driven data access. “By leveraging advanced technologies, we will enable financial institutions to access trusted and secure data in real time from multiple sources, enhancing operational efficiency while adhering to the highest international standards,” said Astyanax Kanakakis. “It also empowers users with full control over the management of access to their data.” The CBUAE emphasised that the solution will be underpinned by a “privacy by design” approach, enabling secure data sharing strictly on the basis of explicit customer consent to ensure confidentiality and data protection across the financial system.

Operationally, the platform is expected to reduce turnaround times and operational costs by replacing resource‑intensive manual checks with automated workflows and pre‑verified data integrations. The CBUAE frames the move as a step to strengthen financial stability and the UAE’s competitiveness, positioning the country to further consolidate its role in the digital financial landscape.

While the announcement sets out the strategic intent and governance signatories, the CBUAE did not publish an implementation timeline or rollout phases in the initial statement. The agreement marks a formal start to developing a national e‑KYC capability that regulators and market participants will watch closely for implications on onboarding speed, compliance burden and the customer consent model for shared financial data.