The Monaco Yacht Show, opening on 24 September 2025, comes at a time when the yachting sector is under heightened regulatory attention. Authorities identify it as one of the country’s highest money-laundering risks.
Monaco’s second National Risk Assessment (NRA2) classified yachting and chartering at a higher risk level than real estate or private banking. The assessment pointed to complex ownership structures, offshore entities, and multi-layered payment arrangements that obscure beneficial ownership.
Following these findings, legislative reforms in 2022 extended anti-money laundering obligations to businesses involved in the sale or rental of pleasure boats. These obligations include customer due diligence, suspicious transaction reporting, and the establishment of internal compliance controls. The Autorité Monégasque de Sécurité Financière (AMSF) has since provided sector-specific guidance, conducted surveys, and highlighted risk indicators such as shell-company clients and atypical fund transfers.
Regulatory pressure increased further in June 2025 when the European Commission added Monaco to its list of high-risk jurisdictions for money laundering and terrorist financing. This designation requires EU financial institutions to apply enhanced due diligence to transactions involving Monegasque entities.
For yachting companies, compliance is now central to maintaining credibility and operational continuity within an increasingly stringent regulatory environment.
