We are proud to share that our Dean, Prof. (Dr.) Zina Kyriakou, has led a new study published in Global Crime, in collaboration with colleagues at the International Executive School, Wilfrid Laurier University and Sharda University.

The study looks at how compliance executives across the Middle East experience the challenge of assessing money laundering risks tied to Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes. These schemes, which grant citizenship in exchange for financial investment, have drawn increasing scrutiny from international regulators, and the research explores what that scrutiny looks like from the perspective of the professionals on the front line of compliance work.

The findings shed light on the everyday pressures financial institutions face when balancing legitimate client needs against intense regulatory demands, and raise important questions about how well current compliance frameworks serve both institutions and the individuals they are meant to protect.

As Dean of the International Executive School, Dr. Kyriakou continues to lead research that engages directly with real-world challenges facing the financial sector. We congratulate her and her co-authors on this important contribution.

Reference: Kyriakou, Z., Naipaul, T., Persaud, R., Elias, A., Gangai, K. N., Azar, R., & Daher, E. (2026). Passports, transactions and trust: Middle Eastern financial executives on money laundering risks in Caribbean Citizenship by Investment schemes. Global Crime. https://doi.org/10.1080/17440572.2026.2689935