Saudi Arabia takes leadership of global anti-corruption network

Saudi Arabia, through its Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, or Nazaha, has taken the presidency of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities.

"Spain handed over the leadership of the GlobE Network during a ceremony at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday."

Nasser Abaalkhail, Nazaha’s deputy for international collaboration, has been appointed as chairman of the committee, with Boni de Moraes Soares, Brazil’s national solicitor for international affairs, serving as vice chair.

"Saudi Arabia was unanimously elected to chair the GlobE Network’s steering committee for the 2025 to 2027 term during a high-level meeting last year in Beijing, China."

Established in 2021, the GlobE Network comprises more than 229 law-enforcement agencies from over 124 countries, alongside numerous international organizations.

Abaalkhail emphasized Saudi Arabia’s objective to strengthen cooperation among member states in combating corruption, in alignment with the UN Convention Against Corruption.

"As chair of the network, Saudi Arabia ‘seeks to create new strategies for asset recovery and initiate a secure communication platform to facilitate quicker and more efficient information exchange among member states,’ Abaalkhail said in a statement carried by the SPA."

He further highlighted that this initiative would enhance international cooperation, empower governments to address emerging challenges in corruption cases, and improve asset recovery mechanisms to track illicit funds across borders.

The GlobE Network has significantly contributed to international efforts to combat cross-border corruption since its inception.

During a recent network meeting, representatives from Azerbaijan, Brazil, Chile, China, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and Indonesia discussed various cross-border investigations.

"This included joint efforts to uncover embezzlement of EU grant funds, the use of the network’s Secure Communication Platform to advance investigations, as well as operations targeting large-scale fraud involving value-added tax."

Participants also shared successful cases of asset recovery, extraditions, and cooperation between agencies to freeze offshore assets obtained through corruption.

Nazaha has been actively addressing corruption within Saudi Arabia since its establishment in 2016.

"During December 2024, the authority arrested 145 citizens and residents — among them government employees — accused of various crimes including bribery and abuse of authority."