Nazaha Stands Out in Dushanbe: Saudi Arabia Leads the Global Anti-Corruption Fight

Saudi Arabia has showcased its efforts in fighting corruption during the second Dushanbe International Forum on Combating Financial Corruption in Tajikistan.

Led by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), the Kingdom maintains a zero-tolerance approach to illicit financial practices, extending its domestic drive onto the international stage through its participation in the global forum and the signing of a new anti-corruption deal with the host country.

Championing Transparency in Dushanbe

Driving the News: Represented by Nazaha, Saudi Arabia took part in the second Dushanbe International Forum on Combating Financial Corruption, held on November 12, 2026, in Tajikistan.

The Big Picture: Speaking at the forum, Nazaha President Mazin bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous stressed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fighting all forms of corruption in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. He highlighted the Kingdom’s anti-corruption efforts, including the formation of a high-level committee to develop the national anti-corruption strategy in partnership with relevant authorities. He noted that the authority works independently and reports directly to the King in accordance with its regulations.

Why It Matters: Financial transparency is a key driving force behind Saudi Vision 2030. Combating corruption directly protects public funds, improves government efficiency, and enhances the investor confidence needed for the Kingdom’s megaprojects and economic diversification.

Leading the Global Anti-Corruption Drive

State of Play: Saudi Arabia has boosted international cooperation in the field of financial anti-corruption through multiple initiatives.

• GlobE Network: Launched during Saudi Arabia‘s 2020 G20 presidency in cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network) comprises 257 anti-corruption agencies from 137 Al-Kahmous urged members to sign the Agreement for the Exchange of Information among the GlobE Network to enhance law enforcement cooperation and expedite asset recovery and return procedures.
• Nazaha Global Initiative for Measuring Corruption: Developed in collaboration with the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), the initiative aims to support national and international efforts in objectively measuring corruption and evaluating the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures.
• International Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): Nazaha has signed over 38 international MoUs with various international organizations and counterpart agencies in the field of preventing and combating corruption.

Saudi-Tajik Pact

The Context: On November 11, 2026, Nazaha’s Al-Kahmous held a meeting with the director of the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption, Sulaimon Said Sultonzoda, during which they reviewed relations between Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in promoting integrity and combating corruption.

Go Deeper: The meeting culminated in signing an MoU on transnational anti-corruption. The agreement aims to bolster cooperation in fighting cross-border corruption, exchanging information on corruption-related offenses, and strengthening institutional capacity building for both sides.

The Impact: As trade and investment ties between the Gulf and Central Asia grow, collaboration among individual states on joint legal frameworks to prevent financial crime has become essential.

Nazaha: The Cornerstone of Saudi Transparency

Zoom In: Established in 2011, Nazaha is Saudi Arabia’s independent governmental anti-corruption agency tasked with investigating financial and administrative corruption across public entities and state-affiliated agencies and companies.

Through regional offices across the Kingdom, Nazaha is charged with:

• Investigating cases involving bribery, embezzlement, misuse of public funds, abuse of power, and conflict of interest within the public sector.
• Conducting routine and targeted field inspections, audits, and monitoring visits across government departments.
• Implementing national anti-corruption strategies, safeguarding public assets, recovering embezzled funds, and aligning with international anti-corruption treaties and global networks.

What to Watch: Nazaha maintains robust cooperation with regional and international anti-corruption bodies, such as the GCC Anti-Corruption Ministerial Committee, the Arab Anti-Corruption and Integrity Network, and the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group.

The Bottom Line: Saudi Arabia’s participation in the second Dushanbe International Forum on Combating Financial Corruption and its recently signed agreement with Tajikistan reflects the deepening diplomatic and economic ties between the Kingdom and Central Asia. It also reinforces Riyadh’s commitment to creating a transparent, predictable environment for domestic and foreign capital.