"Rabdan Academy" Launches the Master of Science in Financial Crimes

Abu Dhabi, June 25 / WAM / Rabdan Academy launched the “Master of Science in Financial Crimes” program, with the support of the General Secretariat of the National Committee to Counter Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of Proliferation, in line with the National Strategy to Counter Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of Proliferation 2024-2027, reflecting the country’s continued commitment to strengthening the financial integrity system.

The program was developed to keep pace with the increasing complexities of financial crimes, and to meet the growing demand for qualified personnel capable of supporting compliance, investigation and enforcement efforts at the national and international levels.

The program aims to provide students with advanced knowledge of regulatory frameworks, financial investigations, and emerging risks, thus enhancing the readiness of institutions in the government and private sectors.

The program was developed within the capacity-building work team of the Subcommittee on the Partnership between the Public and Private Sectors to Counter Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism, with the support of the General Secretariat of the National Committee to Counter Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of Proliferation, with the participation of governmental and regulatory bodies, compliance experts, and representatives of the financial sector.

The academic curriculum is designed to reflect national priorities, operational needs, labor market requirements, and the changing challenges facing the relevant sectors.

The program adopts an integrative approach that combines academic knowledge with practical application, and was prepared in cooperation with regulatory authorities, financial institutions, compliance experts, and those concerned with analysis and financial information, which contributes to preparing qualified cadres capable of dealing with emerging financial risks, and enhancing institutional readiness in various sectors.

His Excellency Hamid Al Zaabi, Secretary-General and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of Proliferation, said: “This program represents an important addition to the system of education, research and capacity building in the UAE in the field of combating money laundering and terrorist financing, as these combined efforts contribute to building a broader and more sustainable base of specialized competencies capable of dealing with the increasing risks and complexities of financial crimes.”

His Excellency added: “The General Secretariat continues to strengthen its partnerships with the academic sector, with the support of the Supreme Committee and the National Committee, and to benefit from these partnerships in supporting the effectiveness of the national system by investing in human capital in cooperation with prestigious scientific institutions. Programs of this type will play a pivotal role in supporting long-term readiness and enhancing the country’s international leadership.”

His Excellency James Morse, President of Rabdan Academy, said: “Launching the Master of Science in Financial Crimes is a strategic step that enhances the Academy’s role in supporting national efforts aimed at establishing an integrated system to combat this type of crime. This program responds to a real need in the market, and represents an extension of our commitment to developing specialized academic programs based on innovation and applied knowledge, which contributes to preparing cadres capable of facing contemporary challenges with high efficiency.”

His Excellency added: “We were keen to design the program in partnership with the relevant authorities to ensure its alignment with national priorities, and to provide students with the analytical, research and applied skills necessary to detect, investigate and prevent these crimes. We are confident that this program will contribute to supporting the readiness of institutions and enhancing the efficiency of compliance and financial governance systems, which will reflect positively on the stability of the national economy and enhance the UAE’s position globally.”

The program will receive the first batch of students during the fall of 2026 at the academy’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, coinciding with the completion of the readiness of the academic staff and educational infrastructure in preparation for the launch of the program. Those wishing to join the program can apply through the registration link available on the Rabdan Academy website (https://admission.ra.ac.ae/admission/).

The program is offered in both full-time and part-time study systems, which provides flexibility for working professionals. The duration of study is one year in the intensive track, or from two to three years depending on the study system, with a total of 30 accredited academic hours.

The program has been accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation, the Department of Education and Knowledge – Abu Dhabi, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in the United States of America (SACSCOC), reflecting commitment to the highest approved academic and organizational quality standards.

The program targets a wide range of professionals and specialists, including those working in law enforcement agencies, financial and banking institutions, regulatory and supervisory bodies, compliance and risk management units, and financial intelligence units, as well as those wishing to develop their career paths in the field of financial crimes.

The academic structure of the program is distinguished by its comprehensiveness, as it covers a range of topics that reflect the nature and development of financial crimes, including financial investigations, compliance and regulatory frameworks, terrorist financing and proliferation, virtual assets and emerging crime risks, as well as governance and ethics in the prevention of financial crimes.

The program includes a study path that focuses on academic courses without a thesis, where the thesis is replaced by an applied graduation project and an additional elective course, which provides flexibility in aligning the academic path with professional goals.

The study plan was designed according to a phased distribution across the classrooms, ensuring the gradual building of knowledge, and enhancing the link between theoretical concepts and practical applications through case studies, analytical exercises, and research projects.

To join the program, it is required to obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate specialty, with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.0 out of 4.0 or its equivalent, in addition to fulfilling the English language requirements in accordance with the policies approved by the Academy, with conditional admission available according to specific controls.

The program contributes to preparing specialized cadres who possess the legal, financial and technical expertise necessary to deal with the increasing risks of financial crimes, and combine legal, financial and technical understanding with advanced research and professional capabilities to deal with current and future challenges.

The program enhances the role of Rabdan Academy in supporting national resilience and developing specialized competencies, through an integrated educational system that combines the academic and professional aspects, and contributes to preparing leaders capable of working efficiently in the sectors of safety, security, defense, emergency preparedness, and crisis management.

This comes as an extension of the Academy’s approach to developing advanced educational programs that support the country’s trends towards building a knowledge-based economy, and enhances its position as a leading regional and international center in the fields of security, governance and compliance.

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