FATF Grey List Changes February 2026: Kuwait and Papua New Guinea Added to FATF Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring

Executive Summary: 

  • FATF Grey List Countries – February 2026: Kuwait and Papua New Guinea Added to the FATF Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring (Grey List)
  • Impact: These jurisdictions would be subject to revised compliance obligations.
  • Actions now: Revise country risk matrices, brief and train front-line staff.
FATF Grey List Changes February 2026: Kuwait and Papua New Guinea Added
Download : FATF Grey List February 2026 Update

Kuwait and Papua New Guinea Added to the FATF Grey List: 13th February 2026

13th February 2026 marks the completion of the first FATF plenary meeting, which brings forward several modifications to the list of “Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring” also known as “Grey List”. As per the update, Kuwait and Papua New Guinea have been added to the Grey List.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plays a crucial role as the global watchdog. It sets international standards to counter Money Laundering (ML), Terrorism Financing (TF), and Proliferation Financing (PF).

The FATF Grey List identifies the jurisdictions which have weak AML/CFT/CPF frameworks requiring immediate action to manage risks, such as jurisdictional risks, and align them with the compliance requirements.

Recent Updates to the Financial Action Task Force Grey List on 13th February 2026

The following are the updates made to the FATF Grey List as of 13th February 2026:

FATF Grey List (Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring) Revision: Added Countries on 13th February 2026

The FATF has added Papua New Guinea and Kuwait to its Grey List, prompting them to reinforce additional measures in their AML/CFT/CPF frameworks.

The Latest FATF Grey List as of 13th February 2026: Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring 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 

Kuwait Grey Listed in February 2026

Kuwait made a high-level political commitment in February 2026 to work with the FATF and MENAFATF to improve the effectiveness of its AML/CFT framework. Since adopting its Mutual Evaluation Report in June 2024, Kuwait has made notable progress on the recommended actions.

With Kuwait’s placement on the Grey List, it will continue implementing its FATF action plan, including:

  • Strengthening outreach to real estate agents and dealers in precious metals and stones on suspicious transaction reporting, including sector-specific ML/TF indicators

  • Improving the accuracy of beneficial ownership information in the registry and applying effective, proportionate, and dissuasive sanctions where inaccurate information is identified

  • Increasing money laundering investigations and prosecutions linked to cross-border movements of currency and bearer negotiable instruments

Papua New Guinea Grey Listed in February 2026

Papua New Guinea also made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and the Asia Pacific Group to strengthen its AML/CFT regime. After adopting its Mutual Evaluation Report in September 2024, PNG made progress in several areas, including operationalising and reinforcing its anti-corruption authority, developing a national risk assessment, and automating the communication of UNSCR updates to relevant agencies and reporting entities.

Following PNG’s Grey List placement on 13 February 2026, PNG will continue to implement its FATF action plan by:

  • Improving its understanding of money laundering risks and endorsing the National AML/CFT/CPF Strategic Plan

  • Proactively seeking outbound international cooperation to identify and trace criminal property held abroad

  • Strengthening risk-based supervision of banks, MVTS and foreign exchange dealers, and higher risk DNFBPs

  • Demonstrating increased money laundering investigations and prosecutions

  • Demonstrating increased freezing, seizure, and confiscation of criminal proceeds, instrumentalities, and property of equivalent value

  • Delivering training for competent authorities to strengthen the implementation of targeted financial sanctions related to proliferation financing

  • Addressing technical compliance gaps, including those related to the money laundering offence, terrorism financing offence, targeted financial sanctions for proliferation financing, politically exposed persons, and suspicious transaction reporting

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