For UAE businesses, registering on the Financial Intelligence Unit’s (FIU) goAML portal is not optional—it is a legal requirement. Yet, nearly 30% of initial applications are rejected due to preventable administrative errors.
1. The "Authorization Letter" Trap
This is the #1 cause of rejection. You cannot use a standard HR employment verification letter. The document must be a formal Board Resolution or partner authorization that explicitly states:
- The appointment of the specific individual as the Compliance Officer/MLRO.
- Their authority to access the goAML portal and submit reports (STRs/SARs) on behalf of the entity.
- It must be signed by the owners/partners listed on the license.
2. Name Mismatch
Your entity name on goAML must match your Trade License character for character. If your license says "Zeej Strategic Consultancy L.L.C" and you register as "Zeej Consultancy", the system will auto-reject you.
3. Expired Documents
Ensure the Emirates ID and Passport copies for both the MLRO and the Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) are valid at the time of submission. If a document expires while your application is "Pending", update it immediately.
4. Technical & Browser Issues
The goAML portal uses pop-ups for document uploads. Modern browsers (Chrome/Edge) block these by default. If you click "Upload" and nothing happens, your application will be submitted without attachments and rejected for "Missing Documents". Always enable pop-ups for the FIU domain.
Author: Zeej Strategic Consulting Research Team
