Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — October 8, 2025:
The Chairman of the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Authority of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Dr. Muhannad Hijazi, participated in the First General Meeting of the Middle East and North Africa Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (MENA-ARIN), held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 8–9 October 2025. The event brought together high-level representatives from member states, as well as international and regional organizations engaged in combating corruption, money laundering, and asset recovery.
In his address, Dr. Hijazi commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) for hosting the meeting and reaffirmed Jordan’s strong commitment to regional and global collaboration in promoting transparency and integrity. He stated that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan “values and supports all directions that encourage cooperation between Arab, regional, and international oversight institutions, as such partnerships strengthen collective efforts to eliminate corruption in all its forms and uphold the values of integrity and justice.”
Dr. Hijazi welcomed the establishment of the MENA-ARIN network as a vital regional mechanism to facilitate the exchange of information and experience among member states, noting that it would enhance mutual trust and coordination in asset recovery initiatives. He emphasized that the creation of this network within such a strategically important region represents a promising advancement in strengthening the rule of law, financial transparency, and international cooperation.
The Chairman also addressed the legal and procedural challenges that often hinder asset recovery, including complex judicial processes, the difficulty of establishing links between criminal acts and illicit assets, and the divergence in national legal frameworks. He highlighted Jordan’s active measures to overcome these challenges through close coordination between the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Authority, the Judicial Council, and specialized judicial bodies assigned to corruption cases. Jordan, he said, has developed a robust national framework for the tracking, freezing, and recovery of illegally obtained assets.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Dr. Hijazi held a series of high-level bilateral engagements with regional and international counterparts. He met with Mr. Andrew Hanger, General Legal Counsel and Director of the Criminal Assets Department of the Australian Federal Police, to discuss cooperation in asset freezing, legislative harmonization, and experience-sharing under the Australian Crime Revenue Law. He also met with Mr. Mohamed Abdulsalam Ben Alilu, Chairman of the National Commission for Integrity and Prevention of Corruption in the Kingdom of Morocco, with whom he agreed to activate the existing Memorandum of Understanding between both institutions and to advance cooperation in asset confiscation, training, and international coordination.
Further, Dr. Hijazi held discussions with Mr. Amer Ali, Chairman of the Central Board for Monitoring and Inspection of the Syrian Arab Republic, exploring avenues of support in financial investigations, digital transformation, and anti-money laundering strategies. Dr. Hijazi reaffirmed Jordan’s readiness to provide technical and training assistance to strengthen Syria’s institutional capacities in these areas. In another meeting, he met with Mr. Kamran Aliev, Deputy Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, and Dr. Hassan Al-Abdullat, Deputy Prosecutor General of Jordan, where they discussed enhancing cooperation on mutual legal assistance, information exchange, and combating money laundering, including illicit activities involving cryptocurrencies.
The Jeddah meeting concluded with the official launch of the MENA-ARIN network, the adoption of its charter, and the signing of a declaration of shared intent. The network forms part of a global system of ten regional asset recovery networks aimed at accelerating international collaboration, strengthening implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), and supporting the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Dr. Hijazi described the MENA-ARIN initiative as “a milestone for our region — a collective step toward stronger intergovernmental coordination, trust, and shared accountability.” He reiterated Jordan’s commitment to supporting regional and international efforts in promoting transparency, preventing corruption, and ensuring the recovery of assets acquired through illicit means.
