What you'll learn
- Apply the Saudi AML/CTF framework, from the Anti-Money Laundering Law and the Counter-Terrorism Financing Law to SAMA AML requirements and the April 2026 amendments, to decide which duty sits where.
- Conduct an AML risk assessment that links national findings to your products, and write a risk appetite statement the board can approve.
- Verify customers and meet beneficial ownership requirements using the Ministry of Commerce 25 percent test, effective control and the senior manager fallback.
- Apply enhanced due diligence to politically exposed persons, complex structures and high-risk countries, and document source of funds and source of wealth.
- Design transaction monitoring scenarios, work alerts to a documented decision and run sanctions screening that handles Arabic name variants.
- Implement targeted financial sanctions under SAMA's December 2025 Rules, including freezing steps and proliferation financing controls.
- Detect red flags in banking, exchange, real estate, gold, fintech, insurance, capital markets and charitable flows, including the designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) the Law covers.
- Draft a suspicious transaction report narrative, file it with the Saudi Financial Intelligence Unit (SAFIU) and manage the account without tipping-off.
- Design governance for the AML compliance officer role, including board reporting, role-based training, group data sharing under the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and staff integrity checks.
- Prepare for a SAMA inspection and a mutual evaluation, fix findings with root cause analysis, and test your judgment in two capstone cases.
Course overview
An anti-money laundering course in Saudi Arabia should go beyond the rules, because most failures start with an unverified beneficial owner or an alert closed without reasons. Many experienced professionals hold a sound policy but cannot show a supervisor the evidence behind each decision. The course closes that gap with a documented, repeatable method for every stage of the programme.
You will leave able to run a risk assessment, verify beneficial owners, work alerts to a recorded decision and file a clear report with the SAFIU. The lessons apply the Anti-Money Laundering Law, the Law on Combating Terrorism Crimes and Financing, SAMA's Rules for the Implementation of Targeted Financial Sanctions and the Ministry of Commerce beneficial ownership rules. The course suits professionals who already handle customer files, alerts or reports, and it lifts KYC and customer due diligence work to a higher level of judgment.
What sets the course apart is that each control is tied to its Saudi source before it is shown at work. Guidance from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the SAFIU reporting process and the expectations of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) anchor every module. The content includes the April 2026 amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Law and SAMA's December 2025 sanctions rules. Lessons rest on official guidance and public FATF methodology, and every worked example is labelled as illustrative.
The course covers the AML Law (Royal Decree M/20) and its Implementing Regulations, the counter-terrorism financing law, and the expectations of SAMA, the CMA and the Ministry of Commerce, with article references throughout. Two capstone cases let you test your judgment on a layered corporate account and a high-value property sale. Every part of this anti-money laundering course in Saudi Arabia leads to an Imtithal Academy certificate of completion.
Course curriculum
Module 1: The Saudi AML/CTF Architecture and the 2026 Reforms — 62 min
- Lesson 1.1: From FATF Standards to Saudi Obligations7 min
- Lesson 1.2: The AML Law and Its Implementing Regulations7 min
- Lesson 1.3: The Counter-Terrorism Financing Law and How CTF Differs from AML7 min
- Lesson 1.4: The April 2026 Amendments and What to Update7 min
- Lesson 1.5: Who Does What: Regulators, FIU and Supervisors7 min
- Lesson 1.6: FATF Membership, Mutual Evaluation and What to Expect7 min
- Module 1 quiz: The Saudi AML/CTF Architecture and the 2026 Reforms10 questions
Module 2: Advanced Risk-Based Approach — 62 min
- Lesson 2.1: Using the National Risk Assessment in Your Own Risk Assessment7 min
- Lesson 2.2: Building an Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessment Step by Step7 min
- Lesson 2.3: Risk Appetite and a Board-Approved AML/CTF Strategy7 min
- Lesson 2.4: Risk Factors in the Saudi Market7 min
- Lesson 2.5: High-Risk Jurisdictions7 min
- Lesson 2.6: Worked Example: An EWRA for a Mid-Size Saudi Finance Company7 min
- Module 2 quiz: Advanced Risk-Based Approach10 questions
Module 3: Advanced CDD, EDD and Beneficial Ownership — 69 min
- Lesson 3.1: CDD Triggers, Timing and the Simplified, Standard and Enhanced Spectrum7 min
- Lesson 3.2: Digital Onboarding and Electronic Identity Verification7 min
- Lesson 3.3: Beneficial Ownership Under the Ministry of Commerce Rules7 min
- Lesson 3.4: Complex Structures7 min
- Lesson 3.5: Politically Exposed Persons, Source of Funds and Source of Wealth7 min
- Lesson 3.6: Reliance on Third Parties, Outsourcing and Group Programmes7 min
- Lesson 3.7: Record Keeping, Ongoing Review and Exiting Relationships7 min
- Module 3 quiz: Advanced CDD, EDD and Beneficial Ownership10 questions
Module 4: Monitoring, Screening and Detection Analytics — 62 min
- Lesson 4.1: Designing Monitoring Scenarios and Thresholds7 min
- Lesson 4.2: Alert Triage, Disposition, Escalation and Quality Assurance7 min
- Lesson 4.3: Tuning, Below-the-Line Testing and Reducing False Positives7 min
- Lesson 4.4: Data Quality and Lineage7 min
- Lesson 4.5: AI, Machine Learning and RegTech: Governance and Supervisory Expectations7 min
- Lesson 4.6: Name Screening and Arabic Transliteration7 min
- Module 4 quiz: Monitoring, Screening and Detection Analytics10 questions
Module 5: Targeted Financial Sanctions and Proliferation Financing — 62 min
- Lesson 5.1: UN Security Council Regimes and the Saudi Implementation Mechanism7 min
- Lesson 5.2: SAMA's Targeted Financial Sanctions Rules: Governance and Responsibilities7 min
- Lesson 5.3: Freezing Without Delay: Workflow, Unfreezing and Exemptions7 min
- Lesson 5.4: List Management and Screening Beyond Customers7 min
- Lesson 5.5: Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment and Mitigation7 min
- Lesson 5.6: Proliferation Financing Red Flags: Dual-Use Goods, Trade Finance and Front Companies7 min
- Module 5 quiz: Targeted Financial Sanctions and Proliferation Financing10 questions
Module 6: Typologies and Case Studies by Sector (Saudi Context) — 69 min
- Lesson 6.1: Banking: Structuring, Mule Accounts and Fraud Proceeds7 min
- Lesson 6.2: Exchange Houses and Remittance: Informal Value Transfer and Smurfing7 min
- Lesson 6.3: Real Estate and Gold and Jewellery: High-Value Cash and Layering7 min
- Lesson 6.4: Fintech, Payments and Virtual-Asset Exposure7 min
- Lesson 6.5: Capital Markets and Insurance7 min
- Lesson 6.6: Non-Profits, Charitable Collections, Crowdfunding and Seasonal Flows7 min
- Lesson 6.7: Corruption Proceeds, Procurement Fraud and Trade-Based Laundering Around Large Projects7 min
- Module 6 quiz: Typologies and Case Studies by Sector (Saudi Context)10 questions
Module 7: Suspicious Transaction Reporting and Working with the SAFIU — 62 min
- Lesson 7.1: When Suspicion Arises: The Legal Standard, Protections and the Ban on Tipping Off7 min
- Lesson 7.2: Internal Escalation and Compliance Officer Decision Making7 min
- Lesson 7.3: Writing a Strong STR Narrative7 min
- Lesson 7.4: Filing Through the SAFIU Platform7 min
- Lesson 7.5: Responding to SAFIU Requests, Production Orders and Freezing or Seizure Orders7 min
- Lesson 7.6: After Filing: Managing the Account and the Relationship7 min
- Module 7 quiz: Suspicious Transaction Reporting and Working with the SAFIU10 questions
Module 8: Governance, the Compliance Officer and Internal Controls — 62 min
- Lesson 8.1: Three Lines of Defence and the AML Compliance Officer Role7 min
- Lesson 8.2: Board Accountability, Management Information and Key Risk Indicators7 min
- Lesson 8.3: Policies, Procedures and the Compliance Monitoring Plan7 min
- Lesson 8.4: Role-Based Training and Measuring Its Effectiveness7 min
- Lesson 8.5: Group and Cross-Border Programmes: Information Sharing and the Personal Data Protection Law7 min
- Lesson 8.6: Staff Screening, Whistleblowing and Insider Risk7 min
- Module 8 quiz: Governance, the Compliance Officer and Internal Controls10 questions
Module 9: Supervision, Enforcement and Mutual Evaluation Readiness — 62 min
- Lesson 9.1: How Supervisors Examine: The Inspection Lifecycle7 min
- Lesson 9.2: Penalties, Personal Liability and Learning from Published Actions7 min
- Lesson 9.3: Preparing for an On-Site Inspection7 min
- Lesson 9.4: Remediation: Root Cause, Plans and Lookbacks7 min
- Lesson 9.5: FATF Effectiveness: The Immediate Outcomes and How Assessors Test Them7 min
- Lesson 9.6: Independent Testing and Internal Audit of the AML Programme7 min
- Module 9 quiz: Supervision, Enforcement and Mutual Evaluation Readiness10 questions
Module 10: Investigations, Asset Recovery and Capstone — 62 min
- Lesson 10.1: Financial Investigation Basics: Following the Money and Link Analysis7 min
- Lesson 10.2: Confiscation, the Public Prosecution and Article 33(2)7 min
- Lesson 10.3: International Cooperation: Mutual Legal Assistance, FIU Channels and Correspondent Requests7 min
- Lesson 10.4: Capstone Case 1: Corporate Account with Layered Ownership7 min
- Lesson 10.5: Capstone Case 2: Real Estate Transaction with Unclear Source of Wealth7 min
- Lesson 10.6: Final Assessment Briefing, Study Alignment Map and Career Pathways7 min
- Module 10 quiz: Investigations, Asset Recovery and Capstone10 questions
Final examination — 60 min
- Final examination: AML/CTF Compliance40 questions
Who is this course for?
- AML/CTF compliance officers who design the programme and report to the board under Article 14 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law and the Implementing Regulations.
- Reporting officers who decide on suspicious transaction reports to the SAFIU under Articles 15 and 16.
- KYC analysts who verify beneficial owners and politically exposed persons under Articles 7 and 8.
- Sanctions and monitoring analysts who apply SAMA's Targeted Financial Sanctions Rules and tune alert scenarios under Article 13.
- Compliance staff at real estate brokerages and gold dealers, who will find AML training for real estate and gold dealers in Saudi Arabia in Lessons 1.5 and 6.3, including the SAR 50,000 cash threshold in SAMA's definition of designated businesses.
- Compliance and risk managers at banks, finance companies, payment providers, money exchangers, insurers and capital market firms supervised by SAMA or the CMA.
- Internal auditors who test AML programmes against the independent audit requirement in Article 14/1 of the Implementing Regulations.
- Lawyers and accountants who prepare company formation, client fund or property transactions that the Law treats as designated activities.
Prerequisites
Learners need working knowledge of AML basics, such as customer due diligence and suspicious transaction reporting, because this financial crime compliance course focuses on judgment and evidence rather than definitions. A computer or phone with internet access is enough. The course is in English, takes about 6 to 8 hours of study and runs at your own pace. Rules change, so confirm current requirements on the official sites of SAMA, the CMA, the AML Permanent Committee and the SAFIU before you act.
Assessment
A short quiz after each module and a final assessment. Pass mark: 70%, with up to 3 attempts.
Academy certificate of completion
Complete all lessons and pass the final assessment with 70% or more to receive a digital certificate in your name that you can download and share.
- Downloadable digital certificate
- Shows your name, the course title and completion date
- Suitable for training and CPD records
Frequently asked questions
Is this an advanced AML course for experienced compliance professionals?
Yes. This anti-money laundering course in Saudi Arabia is Advanced level and assumes you already know customer due diligence and reporting basics. It focuses on judgment: how to rate risk, trace beneficial owners, close alerts with reasons and defend decisions to SAMA. It suits compliance officers, KYC and sanctions analysts, internal auditors and staff of designated businesses. If you are new to AML, learn the basics first, then take this course for the Saudi legal detail.
Is the certificate from this online AML course accredited?
No. You receive an Imtithal Academy Certificate of Completion after you pass the final exam with at least 70 percent. It is a record of study, not a licence, a professional qualification or a government accreditation, and SAMA, the CMA and the SAFIU do not issue it. Add it to your CV, LinkedIn profile or your employer's training records. If you plan to sit a regulator or professional body exam, check that body's official syllabus.
Is this course legal advice?
No. The course is education about the Anti-Money Laundering Law, the Counter-Terrorism Financing Law and SAMA guidance. It does not replace legal, tax or regulatory advice on a specific case. Rules change, including through the April 2026 amendments, so check the official text on the SAMA Rulebook and AML Permanent Committee websites and ask a qualified Saudi lawyer about your situation.
Who must comply with the Saudi AML Law?
Financial institutions and designated businesses and professions must comply. SAMA's guidance lists banks, finance and leasing companies, money or value transfer providers, payment instrument issuers, insurers and investment firms. It also covers real estate brokers, dealers in gold, precious stones or metals in cash transactions of SAR 50,000 or more, and lawyers and accountants for listed activities. Check the Anti-Money Laundering Law and its Implementing Regulations for current definitions, then train every role with AML compliance training that fits its duties.
How do I file a suspicious transaction report with the SAFIU?
Your reporting officer files through the mechanism and form the SAFIU approves and adds a detailed report with all available data. SAMA's guidance also expects a technical report: six months of statements, due diligence documents and an examination of the account. Module 7 of this suspicious transaction report training teaches the decision record, a six-element narrative and a filing checklist. Never tell the customer, because tipping-off breaches the confidentiality duties tied to Articles 15 and 16 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law.
How do I identify the beneficial owner of a company in Saudi Arabia?
Start with the natural person who owns or controls 25 percent or more, then test effective control, and then identify the senior manager if no one qualifies. The Ministry of Commerce beneficial ownership rules, amended in December 2025, follow this order, and SAMA's guidance adds that a customer's written statement is not enough. Verify with the commercial register, articles of association and shareholder register. Module 3 covers beneficial ownership requirements with a worksheet and a worked example for complex structures.
What are targeted financial sanctions and how are assets frozen?
Targeted financial sanctions freeze the funds of named persons and entities and bar anyone from making funds available to them. In Saudi Arabia, SAMA's Rules for the Implementation of Targeted Financial Sanctions, issued in December 2025, set the duties of the institutions it supervises. Module 5 works as targeted financial sanctions training: governance, list management, the freezing workflow, unfreezing and proliferation financing red flags. Freezing must happen without delay, so build the procedure before a match arrives.
How did the April 2026 amendments change the Saudi AML Law?
Royal Decree D/223 amended the Anti-Money Laundering Law in April 2026. It removed explicit non-profit organisation references from Articles 14, 15, 16 and 18, added Article 33(2) on confiscating funds disproportionate to lawful income, created Article 49 for the Permanent Committee and set who issues the Implementing Regulations under Article 50. Lesson 1.4 gives a policy update checklist. These changes do not relax a financial institution's own duties.
Does the course include AML training for real estate and gold dealers in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Lesson 1.5 explains who counts as a designated business, including real estate brokers and dealers in gold, precious stones and metals. Lesson 6.3 covers high-value cash, linked transactions and source of funds red flags, and Capstone Case 2 walks through a villa purchase with unexplained wealth. Each sector lesson ends with a box that shows which red flags matter for your sector, so learners on this anti-money laundering course in Saudi Arabia can focus on their own risks.
How do I prepare for a SAMA AML inspection?
Build one evidence file before the inspection: board minutes, the approved risk assessment, policies, due diligence samples, monitoring test results, a report log, sanctions records, training records and audit reports. SAMA AML requirements expect you to provide the information behind your risk assessment and your records on request. Lesson 9.3 teaches a mock inspection and lists the evidence to collect. Keep records contemporaneous, because documents created at the last minute weaken your credibility.
Training a team?
We offer company pricing with progress tracking for your staff and a certificate for every learner.