February 2026 FATF update: Kuwait and Papua New Guinea added to increased monitoring list

Executive Summary: 

  • FATF Grey List: Added Kuwait and Papua New Guinea
  • FATF Blacklist: No change
  • Impact: Re-Assess Jurisdictional Risks as per the update
  • Actions now: Modify jurisdictional risks to reflect in polices, risk matrices and training.
February 2026 FATF update: Kuwait and Papua New Guinea added to increased monitoring list

FATF Grey List: February 2026 Update

13th February 2026 marks the successful completion of the first plenary session for the year 2026, conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which added the following countries to the Grey List:

  • Kuwait
  • Papua New Guinea

FATF is an intergovernmental organisation which acts as a global watchdog. It sets policies to counter financial crimes such as Money Laundering (ML), Terrorism Financing (TF) and Proliferation Financing (PF) that are to be followed internationally. FATF plays a key role on an international standpoint to combat financial crimes, which are carried out through the Grey and Blacklist released.

Actions Regulated Entities Operating within Singapore Must Take Upon FATF Grey List Update

The AML Regulatory Landscape in Singapore necessitates Regulated Entities and other obligated entities to undertake immediate measures that integrate the FATF Grey List to ensure all-around compliance with the latest update requirements and address the emerging risks. The following compliance measures are to be undertaken:

Comprehensive ML/TF/PF Risk Assessment

Conducting a comprehensive Risk Assessment helps to take into account the geographic risk exposure that arises for REs as per the latest FATF Grey List Update.

Robust AML/CFT/CPF Policies and Procedures

Regulated Entities are expected to have robust policies, procedures, and risk mitigation measures that integrate the latest FAFTF Grey List and revise the jurisdictional risk rating accordingly.

Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)

Regulated Entities are required to conduct Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) for customers linked to grey-listed jurisdictions as per the latest FATF Grey List.

Ongoing Monitoring and Reporting

Regulated Entities must move their attention towards strengthening their protocols pertaining to Ongoing Monitoring and Reporting of customers associated with grey-listed jurisdictions as per the latest FATF Grey List.

Staff Training and Awareness

Regulated Entities should incorporate staff training to raise awareness about the implications of the FATF Grey List updates and prepare them accordingly.

FATF Grey List as of 13th February 2026

1. Algeria    
2. Angola    
3. Bolivia  
4. Bulgaria    
5. Cameroon    
6. Côte d’Ivoire    
7. Democratic Republic of Congo    
8. Haiti    
9. Kenya    
10. Kuwait
11. Laos

  1. Lebanon  
  2. Monaco  
  3. Namibia  
  4. Nepal  
  5. Papua New Guinea
  6. South Sudan
  7. Syria  
  8. Venezuela  
  9. Vietnam 
  10. Virgin Islands (UK) 
  11. Yemen 

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