The quiet architecture of trust

We verify legal existence, beneficial ownership, directors and authorised signatories before any commercial relationship begins. Corporate extracts, constitutional documents and shareholder registers are checked against independent registries.

• Certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents
• Beneficial ownership to 25% (or lower where required)
• Director and authorised-signatory verification
• Power of attorney and signatory mandates

Every counterparty and beneficial owner is screened against UN, OFAC, EU, HMT and UAE sanctions lists. Politically exposed persons and adverse media are reviewed before onboarding and on a continuous basis.

• Real-time screening against major sanctions lists
• PEP classification and enhanced due diligence
• Adverse-media review in English and local languages
• Re-screening triggered by list updates

A risk rating is assigned based on jurisdiction, ownership structure, business activity and transaction profile. We document the source of funds, commercial rationale and expected trade flow.

• Jurisdiction and sector risk scoring
• Source-of-funds and wealth declaration
• Commercial rationale and intended trade flow
• Periodic refresh and event-driven re-review

Due diligence is not a one-time event. Transactions, watchlist changes and counterparty news are monitored continuously, with records retained for at least five years per UAE AML requirements.

• Continuous transaction and watchlist monitoring
• Event-driven re-screening on ownership changes
• Annual policy review and staff training
• ≥ 5-year record retention per UAE requirements

MENA United applies a risk-based AML programme covering counterparty screening, source-of-funds review, transaction monitoring and record-keeping. The programme is aligned to FATF recommendations and UAE Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018 on AML/CFT.

• Risk-based customer due diligence (CDD & EDD)
• Source-of-funds and source-of-wealth review
• Ongoing transaction monitoring and record-keeping

Every counterparty is onboarded through a documented KYC / KYB workflow — corporate identity, beneficial ownership, licences, financial standing and trading references are collected and refreshed on a periodic and event-driven basis.

• UBO identification to 25% threshold (or lower where applicable)
• Corporate, licensing and financial documentation review
• Periodic refresh + event-driven re-review

Counterparties, vessels, banks and cargo routes are screened against UN, OFAC, EU, HMT and UAE sanctions lists at onboarding and continuously thereafter. High-risk jurisdictions and dual-use goods are escalated for compliance approval.

• UN · OFAC · EU · HMT · UAE list screening
• Continuous screening of counterparties, vessels and banks
• Dual-use / export-control review before shipment

The company operates a zero-tolerance stance on corruption in line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, the US FCPA and UAE Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021. Facilitation payments, kickbacks and undisclosed commissions are prohibited.

• UK Bribery Act · US FCPA · UAE Penal Code aligned
• No facilitation payments or undisclosed commissions
• Gifts, hospitality and donations logged and reviewed

Agents, brokers and intermediaries are onboarded through enhanced due diligence, with written anti-bribery representations in every contract and periodic re-certification. Payments to third-party jurisdictions require documented commercial rationale.

• Enhanced due diligence on agents and intermediaries
• Contractual anti-bribery representations & audit rights
• Third-country payment review and approval

MENA United does not tolerate forced labour, child labour or human trafficking in its operations or supply chain. Suppliers are expected to uphold the ILO core conventions and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

• ILO core conventions & UN Guiding Principles referenced
• Supplier attestations on labour practices
• Escalation channel for suspected violations

Environmental, social and governance commitments cover emissions transparency on cargo movements, responsible sourcing, board-level oversight, and continuous improvement in line with recognised reporting frameworks.

• Emissions reporting on chartered voyages where available
• Responsible sourcing and counterparty ESG review
• See the dedicated ESG page for the full policy set

Employees, counterparties and third parties can report suspected breaches of law, sanctions, bribery, fraud or ethics concerns confidentially. Reports are handled by a designated compliance owner, without retaliation.

• Confidential reporting to compliance@mena-united.com
• Anonymous submissions accepted
• No retaliation against good-faith reporters

Suppliers, agents and service providers are expected to comply with the same AML, sanctions, anti-bribery, labour and HSE standards MENA United applies to itself. Non-compliance is grounds for contract termination.

• AML · sanctions · anti-bribery flow-down
• Labour, HSE and environmental expectations
• Right to audit and terminate for non-compliance

Policies are approved by senior management, reviewed annually and cascaded through mandatory training. Records of screening, approvals, training and incidents are retained in line with UAE record-keeping requirements (minimum five years).

• Annual policy review by senior management
• Mandatory staff training on AML, sanctions and anti-bribery
• ≥ 5-year record retention per UAE requirements