Linworld's 19th EMEA Compliance Summit 2026

19th EMEA Compliance Summit 2026: Anti-Corruption . Data . Sanctions . AML held from January 21-22, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Canal View, served as a primary forum for over 100 senior compliance leaders and government officials to address evolving regulatory landscapes in the EMEA region.
 
The summit brought together compliance professionals, legal experts, and industry leaders to address pressing issues in the regulatory landscape, with a central focus on six key pillars: Anti-Corruption, Data Compliance, Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Export Control, and Tariff Regulations.
 
Participants from all over the world discussing the latest developments, challenges and cases regarding Anti-Corruption, AML and Data, Sanctions, Export Control, Tariff, such as Al-Futtaim, Volkswagen, Volvo, Daimler truck, Starbucks, BMS, Sanofi, BP, Continental AG, MSD, Gilead, Ipsen, Schneider Electric, Abbvie, Mashreq, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Saudi National Bank, Pfizer, IKEA, Merck Group, Bridgestone, Kering, StoneX, Nokia, Ericsson, Bayer, Amgen, Astellas, BASF, Biogen, Shell, Goodyear, Brookfield, Goldman Sachs, L'Oreal, Emirates Telecommunications Group Company, Emirates National Oil Company, Manulife, Veon, Meta, JP Morgan, Syngenta, Microsoft, Vale, Caterpillar, DHL, UPS, Airbus, Bosch, Easypaisa Bank Limited, HSBC, etc. Against the backdrop of evolving global compliance frameworks and increasing cross-border regulatory scrutiny, the event featured in-depth discussions, case studies, and policy updates tailored to the EMEA market. Sessions on Anti-Corruption delved into emerging enforcement trends, risk mitigation strategies, and the role of technology in enhancing due diligence and conducting investigations. Data Compliance tracks highlighted regional developments, including alignment with international standards and practical challenges in data localization and privacy protection. Sanctions and Export Control sessions examined the impact of geopolitical tensions on trade, offering insights into navigating complex regulatory environments and ensuring supply chain resilience. AML discussions focused on digital transformation in financial crime prevention, while Tariff Regulations workshops provided actionable guidance on optimizing trade strategies amid shifting tariff policies and trade agreements.
 
 
 
The two-day event mainly consists of below four parts:
 
1, Part One: The most attractive and fascinating part: Recent Actions, Investigations and Case Study from Middle East Countries, China, USA, and India, etc
 
1.1 USA: Former Director from DOJ introduced The New Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement Landscape and Its Global Implications: Changes in FCPA Enforcement Guidelines; FCPA Enforcement Post-Lifting of Pause; International Enforcement Response; Responding to the Changing Anticorruption Enforcement Landscape
 
1.2 Saudi Arabia: Vice President from Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) went deeply into Corruption Risks and Anti-Corruption Initiatives in Saudi Arabia: Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) Law; Protection of Whistleblowers Law; Saudi Central Bank and Nazaha Memorandum of Cooperation; Nazaha MOUs with other Countries
 
1.3 UAE: Director from DIFC Courts presented Bribery & Corruption Laws and Regulations 2025 United Arab Emirates: New Penal Code; Enforcement Authorities Established at a Federal and Emirate Level to Combat Corruption and Financial Crime; UAE Federal Tax Authority User Guide; UAE Removal in February 2024 from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) Grey List
 
1.4 Middle East: Middle East Managing Partner from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer unveiled EMEA Anti-Bribery Law Update 2025: EMEA and North Africa New Laws and Regulations; Enforcement trends and Case Studies; Emerging Issues- What to Look out for in 2026 and Beyond
 
1.5 Export Control Compliance: Head of Legal & Regulatory Compliance from Emirates National Oil Company interpreted the Export Control Compliance- Financial Sanctions and trade Controls: Overview of the Sanctions and Export Control Regimes; Expectations of the Regulators; Enforcement; Compliance
 
2, Part Two: The most eye-catching part: Data Protection Regulatory Framework
 
2.1 Data Partner from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius brought a wonderful speech titled Data on the Move: Navigating Sandstorms of transfers, Disclosures and Investigations: trends in Development of Data Protection Regimes; Regulatory Landscape in the GCC; Cross-border Data transfers; Disclosures & Investigations; Challenges to Data Protection Compliance
 
2.2 International Partner from Ashurst together with PwC, SAP and Norton Rose Fulbright participated in a panel discussion on Data Sovereignty: How It Impacts The Cross-Border Flow of Data: Data Privacy and Types of Restricted Data; How Do They Affect My Cross-Border Investigation/Dispute? w/examples; Cross-Border Data Regulations and Cyber Data Breach Situations; AI/Gen AI Data Regulations
 
3, Part Three: A feast of high tech and new technologies: How to Use New Technology to Help Fight Corruption and Other Risks
 
In this section, in-house counsels from Merck, GE, Intel, Pfizer, Siemens, GSK, HP, GM, Boehringer Ingelheim, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Central Bank Of Bahrain, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Al-Futtaim, Airbus; Top lawyers from Reed Smith, Eversheds Sutherland, Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper and leading experts from PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, Kroll, Crowe UAE, Control Risks, Dow Jones and BSI sat together to discuss how to use management systems (ISO 37000; ISO 31000; ISO 37301) and latest technology such as eDiscovery, AI, machine learning, speech content analysis with LLM, material content analysis, event photo risk detection, intelligent content compliance management to improve the corporate compliance systems including but not limited to risk detection, fraud investigation, third party risk management in the age of AI.
 
4, Part Four: The most practical and down-to-earth section: Firsthand Experiences from Industry Leaders
 
4.1 Global Whistleblower: Managing High-Stakes Multi-Jurisdictional Compliance Challenges Amid New Whistleblower Protection Mechanisms from Continental AG
4.2 Internal Document Management & Employees Relations during Investigations or Dawn Raids from Kuehne + Nagel
4.3 How to Do Business Safely in the EMEA Region from Schneider Electric
4.4 Best Practices in Third Party Diligence with a Focus on Risk Assessment from Fresenius Medical Care
4.5 Culture of Compliance Journey shared together by Bayer, DLA Piper, Pepsi-Cola and Takeda
4.6 Corporate Self-Assessments and Internal Investigations in the EMEA Region discussed by 5 panelists from Reed Smith, Bosch, Servier, Boehringer Ingelheim and General Motors
4.7 Managing Third Party Compliance Risks - Conduct Due Diligence Properly When Choosing a New Business Partner discussed together by DLA Piper, Nokia, Ernst & Young and Intel
4.8 Behavioral Considerations in Corporate Investigations on Ethical Misconduct from Easypaisa Bank Limited
4.9 Ethical Procurement and Supply Chain from Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply
4.10 How Government Agencies Can Leverage Open-Source Intelligence To Reduce The Shadow Economy And Increase Compliance from IVIX
4.11 Investigations in an Unstable World - Crisis Control Across Borders from Jones Day
4.12 Deep into The European Public Prosecutor's Office and Case Sharing from Hengeler Mueller
 
The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, many of whom expressed strong interest in participating again to gain further insights from government officials, elite lawyers, compliance veterans, and top partners from the Big Four. Although the two-day’s summit has concluded, discussions on the topics addressed are still ongoing. Linworld Group will continue to make efforts to provide platform to those who are interested in learning more about the developments of anti-corruption compliance trends in China, Asia, EMEA and globally. Lastly, special thanks to supporting partners from Asia Briefing, International Compliance Association, The Association of Governance Risk and Compliance and Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.