Saudi Arabia represented by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), has successfully hosted the permanent secretariat of the Regional Asset Recovery Network in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA-ARIN), officially established during the 39th meeting of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF).
The Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN) Secretariat congratulated Saudi Arabia on hosting the permanent secretariat and assuming the network’s presidency in 2025. The announcement was made during the 20th general meeting of CARIN in Paris on Friday.
CARIN’s Secretariat commended the Kingdom for initiating the establishment of the network and hosting its permanent secretariat, underlying that this step constitutes a pioneering international initiative in combating corruption, crime, and asset recovery, enhancing global efforts in tracking and recovering assets.
The establishment of the MENA-ARIN increases the number of regional asset recovery networks worldwide to nine, collectively encompassing entities from 200 countries and territories. These include law enforcement agencies, investigative bodies, and prosecutors specializing in tracing and recovering illicit funds across all types of crimes, strengthening international efforts to combat corruption and support sustainable development.
Nazaha expressed gratitude to the CARIN Secretariat for its ongoing support and to MENAFATF member states for their confidence in the Kingdom’s leadership of the network. The authority reaffirmed its commitment to achieving the network's objectives and fostering effective cooperation across the MENA region to enhance asset recovery efforts.