DESIGNING ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THREATS IN A COMPLEX WORLD
Building Robust AML Frameworks for Compliance, Resilience, and Risk Reduction
Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees (Face-to-Face) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 – 24 Sep 2025 | Manama – Bahrain | USD 2495 per delegate |
Course Introduction
As global financial systems become more digitized and interconnected, the threat landscape for money laundering continues to evolve. Criminal networks exploit new technologies, cross-border transactions, and regulatory gaps—challenging traditional Anti-Money Laundering (AML) efforts. Organizations must go beyond check-the-box compliance and design proactive AML programs aligned with emerging risks and evolving regulations.
This 3-day course equips compliance, risk, and audit professionals with the skills to design, assess, and enhance AML programs that are risk-based, adaptive, and fit for today’s complex threat environment. Participants will learn how to integrate customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, suspicious activity reporting, and emerging typologies into a robust AML framework.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Design and assess AML programs that meet international standards and local regulations
• Apply risk-based approaches to customer onboarding, KYC, and ongoing monitoring
• Detect and respond to suspicious transactions using real-world typologies
• Strengthen governance, reporting, and internal controls for AML compliance
• Prepare for AML audits, regulator inspections, and cross-border investigations
Key Benefits of Attending
• Enhance your organization’s defense against money laundering risks and reputational damage
• Learn about current and emerging AML threats including crypto laundering, shell companies, and TBML
• Benchmark your AML program against FATF recommendations and regional laws
• Understand the lifecycle of AML risk management—from risk assessment to SAR filing
• Practice developing red flags, typologies, and internal reporting protocols
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
• AML compliance officers and financial crime investigators
• Risk, audit, and legal professionals in financial institutions
• Bank regulators, FIU analysts, and supervisors
• Professionals in fintech, crypto, and digital banking operations
• AML consultants, attorneys, and investigators
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
• Proficiency in AML program design and enhancement
• Risk-based customer due diligence and onboarding
• Investigation and SAR drafting skills
• Ability to conduct AML risk assessments and gap analyses
• Familiarity with global AML frameworks and typologies
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
• Enhanced AML compliance and regulator readiness
• Reduced exposure to legal, reputational, and operational risks
• Stronger detection of suspicious patterns and complex laundering tactics
• Improved documentation, internal controls, and transaction monitoring systems
• A more resilient and proactive anti-financial crime culture
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
• Strategy Briefings – Overview of global AML frameworks and evolving threats
• Case Studies – International money laundering cases and enforcement actions
• Workshops – Red flag analysis, program gap assessments, and SAR simulations
• Peer Exchange – Experience sharing across banking, fintech, and regulatory domains
• Tools – AML risk matrix templates, audit checklists, and typology databases
Course Outline
DETAILED 3-DAY COURSE OUTLINE
Training Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Daily Format: 3 Learning Modules | Coffee Breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Buffet: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: Foundations of AML Compliance and Risk
- Module 1: Global AML Frameworks and Standards (07:30 – 09:30)
• FATF recommendations and regional compliance mandates
• AML/CFT regulatory landscape in the GCC and MENA regions
• Key components of an effective AML program - Module 2: Risk-Based Approach to AML (09:45 – 11:15)
• Risk assessment methodology and AML risk matrix
• Customer risk ratings and segmentation
• Regulatory expectations and audit readiness - Module 3: Customer Due Diligence and KYC (11:30 – 01:00)
• CDD, EDD, and simplified due diligence
• KYC lifecycle: onboarding to ongoing monitoring
• Politically exposed persons (PEPs) and beneficial ownership - Workshop – AML Program Gap Analysis (02:00 – 03:30)
• Review of AML program structure
• Identification of improvement areas
Day 2: Transaction Monitoring, Typologies, and Reporting
- Module 1: Transaction Monitoring Frameworks (07:30 – 09:30)
• Designing monitoring rules and thresholds
• Alerts, case management, and escalation protocols
• Manual vs. automated monitoring systems - Module 2: Emerging Money Laundering Typologies (09:45 – 11:15)
• Trade-based money laundering (TBML), smurfing, crypto laundering
• Shell companies and layering techniques
• Typology red flags by product/channel - Module 3: Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) (11:30 – 01:00)
• When and how to file SARs
• Documentation, narrative writing, and filing workflows
• Regulatory expectations and confidentiality - Workshop – Typology Mapping and SAR Simulation (02:00 – 03:30)
• Practice identifying typologies
• Drafting a SAR narrative
Day 3: Governance, Internal Controls, and Future Threats
- Module 1: AML Governance and Internal Controls (07:30 – 09:30)
• Three lines of defense and roles of the AML officer
• Policies, procedures, and internal audit readiness
• Board reporting and escalation - Module 2: Technology, Innovation, and AML (09:45 – 11:15)
• AI and machine learning in AML monitoring
• Fintech/Regtech tools and limitations
• Blockchain, DeFi, and crypto compliance - Module 3: Global Enforcement Trends and Future Risks (11:30 – 01:00)
• Lessons from enforcement actions and fines
• Emerging threats: digital ID fraud, sanctions evasion, money mules
• Preparing for evolving regulatory focus - Final Workshop – AML Program Enhancement Plan (02:00 – 03:30)
• Develop a roadmap to strengthen your AML framework
• Peer feedback and final Q&A
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Anti-Money Laundering Program Design, validating their ability to create, evaluate, and enhance AML frameworks to meet global compliance standards and mitigate financial crime risks.