Brief
UAE Deploys AI, Drones and Crypto Tracking to Tackle Financial Crime
The United Arab Emirates is expanding its use of artificial intelligence, drones and cryptocurrency monitoring to strengthen customs inspections and police operations.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The United Arab Emirates announced that it is deploying artificial intelligence, drones and crypto‑tracking tools to improve the security of its financial system, according to a session held in Abu Dhabi on the third day of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
During the session, representatives from UAE customs, Abu Dhabi Police, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and PwC Middle East presented real‑world examples of how AI is being used to screen shipments, trace crypto flows and focus inspections. Customs officials said drones now inspect ships and containers arriving by sea and air, while AI helps build risk profiles and flag suspicious invoice values. The system also alerts officers to cross‑border cash declarations that could be linked to money laundering, saving time and effort for customs staff.
Abu Dhabi Police said the force uses AI in three areas: preventing crime, countering crime and training officers. The General Command uses an analysis system that tracks financial assets, including crypto, by mapping how they flow into and out of the UAE. The police also run systems that monitor hotspots across the country with a high risk of criminality. AI is also a training tool, with virtual simulations of crimes used to train officers to identify, counter and disrupt crime.
Minister of Economy and Tourism Salem Ahmed Al Tunaiji said the challenge is scale, as the volume of data is too large for people to handle. He added that the agencies work as a chain, with customs referring suspicious cases to the police where law enforcement begins its work.
Key facts
- The UAE is using AI to screen more than 25,000 entities for financial crime (gulfnews.com)
- Drones are used to inspect ships and containers arriving by sea and air (gulfnews.com)
- Abu Dhabi Police uses AI to track crypto and other virtual assets (gulfnews.com)
- AI alerts customs officers to suspicious cross‑border cash declarations (gulfnews.com)
- AI is used as a training tool for police through virtual crime simulations (gulfnews.com)
Background
The UAE’s anti‑fraud initiative launched on 27 September 2026 announced a coordinated regional effort to tackle cross‑border fraud and money laundering, involving workshops, a working group and AI tools to map fraud typologies. The new AI, drone and crypto‑tracking measures build on that initiative.
Why it matters
By integrating AI, drones and crypto‑tracking, the UAE aims to strengthen its customs inspections and police operations, reducing the risk of money laundering and financial crime across its borders.
What happens next
The UAE government will continue to expand the use of AI and drones in customs and police operations, with further workshops and training sessions planned as part of the regional anti‑fraud initiative.
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “UAE Uses AI, Drones and Crypto Tracking to Combat Financial Crime and Strengthen Security”
