CME-2A · Global Financial Compliance
CME-2A – Global Financial Compliance (International Compliance Exam)
Compliance and AML staff must pass CME-2A before they can register with the CMA, and each attempt costs SAR 2,100. We've handpicked 558 questions covering most topics on the latest syllabus, to help you push for a top score before test day!
Try 10 free questions and see your levelTake a full mock exam
- 100 questions in 120 min, like the real test
- 558 questions covering the main scoring topics, with explanations
- 70% pass mark, with targeted practice on your weak spots
See the gap to your target score Practise the units costing you the most marks A full mock exam like the real one
Every option explained so you understand why
If your exam were today, would you pass?
Try 10 free questions without signing up. Get your score and find your weak areas as soon as you finish.
A regulator finds that its rulebook is not keeping pace with new technology and a wider range of assets. Which point relates to this problem in a rules-based model?
All 10 free questions with answers and an explanation for every option
What you get
- 558questions in the bankPractise with the answer shown right away, or sit a full timed mock
- 5unitsSplit by the exam syllabus
- 64flashcardsTo lock in terms and definitions
- 89quick review pointsEach unit in a few key lines
Unit map
- 01The International Regulatory Environment20 questions
- 02The Compliance Function24 questions
- 03Managing the Risk of Financial Crime20 questions
- 04Ethics, Integrity and Fairness19 questions
- 05Governance, Risk Management and Compliance17 questions
Exam facts
CME-2A – Global Financial Compliance (International Compliance Exam) — Number of questions: 100 questions. Exam time: 120 minutes. Pass mark: 70%. Calculator: On-screen calculator. Exam fee: SAR 2,100. Source: Financial Academy (Last verified: 2026-10-31). Question bank: full mock exams of 100 questions in 120 minutes, like the real test with a result for every unit, plus 558 explained questions across 5 units, every option explained, a review of your mistakes, and two ways to practise: see the answer right away, or sit a full timed mock. Free questions: a 10-question diagnostic test covering the main units, no sign-up; at the end we compare your score with the pass mark and show your weakest units.
- Exam code
- CME-2A · Global Financial Compliance
- Exam language
- Arabic or English
- Number of questions
- 100 questions Source
- Exam time
- 120 minutes Source
- Pass mark
- 70% Source
- Calculator
- On-screen calculator Source
- Exam fee
- SAR 2,100 Source
Last verified: 2026-10-31
How to register
- There are no prerequisites: no certificate or training programme is required before the exam.
- Create an account on the Financial Academy website and choose CME-2A and the exam language (Arabic or English); the language cannot be changed later.
- Book your exam date and pay the fee in full (non-refundable).
- Before the exam, fill in CISI's QRF form online; otherwise no official result is issued.
Exam body
Financial Academy: Official website: Financial Academy
Study guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the CME-2A exam?
CME-2A is the Financial Academy's code for the Global Financial Compliance exam from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI). The Capital Market Authority requires it for everyone to be registered in compliance or anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing roles, according to the exam page on the Financial Academy website (fa.gov.sa). It has 100 questions in 120 minutes, in Arabic or English.
Can I try CME-2A Global Financial Compliance questions for free?
Yes. Free questions: a 10-question diagnostic test covering the main units, no sign-up; at the end we compare your score with the pass mark and show your weakest units. The free practice test page lists the same questions with answers and an explanation for every option. The rest of the questions and the full mock exams come with a pass from SAR 26.
What makes this CME-2A Global Financial Compliance question bank different?
Question bank: full mock exams of 100 questions in 120 minutes, like the real test with a result for every unit, plus 558 explained questions across 5 units, every option explained, a review of your mistakes, and two ways to practise: see the answer right away, or sit a full timed mock. Every question is reviewed and referenced, ready to practise on your phone. Try the free questions and read the explanations before buying full access.
What is the difference between CME-2A and CME-2B?
CME-2A is CISI's international exam (100 questions, 120 minutes, pass mark 70, fee SAR 2,100), while CME-2B is a Financial Academy exam on Saudi capital market regulations for compliance and AML (30 minutes, pass mark 17, fee SAR 1,700); you need to pass both for the certificate, according to the two exam pages on the Financial Academy website. CME-2B covers the Capital Market Institutions Regulations and the Anti-Money Laundering Law (20% each) and other regulations. HADAF support for getting the fees back is only granted after you pass both exams.
What are the exam chapters and their weights?
Five chapters, according to the Financial Academy page: the international regulatory environment 20%, the compliance function 24%, managing the risk of financial crime 20%, ethics, integrity and fairness 19%, and governance, risk management and compliance 17%. The workbook says each chapter's question count can move by at most two either way.
Is the CME-2A exam hard?
To pass you need 70 correct answers out of 100 questions in 120 minutes, about 72 seconds per question. The questions test concepts and international standards with almost no calculations, such as the FATF Recommendations, IOSCO's objectives and the Bank for International Settlements' guidance on compliance risk. The Financial Academy estimates about 100 hours to study the workbook, and the exam may include up to 10% extra unscored trial questions that are not identified.
What is the pass mark?
The pass mark is 70 out of 100 according to the exam page on the Financial Academy website, so you need 70 correct answers.
Which language can I take the exam in?
Arabic or English. You choose when booking and cannot change it afterwards. Every question on this site is written in both languages.
How many times can I retake the exam?
At most 3 attempts in any 12 months, then a 6-week break; at least three full days must pass after a fail before you resit, and you pay the full fee each time, according to the CISI exam policy on the Financial Academy website.
Is my mock exam score an official result?
No. Scores on this site are for practice only and are not an official result. They do show where you'd stand if the test were today: the full mock exam has the real question count and time, and your score is split across the five chapters so you can see where you lose points.
Is this an official site, and how do I pay?
It is an independent site, not part of Qiyas or any government body, and every question is reviewed before it is published. You pay once, with no automatic renewal, through Waffo Pancake (the merchant of record) by Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and your statement shows "WAFFO". If you were charged twice or the pass did not open, email support@saudiexams.com.
Study material sample: The International Regulatory Environment
Summary
Unit 1 carries about 20 of the 100 questions on the real exam. Section 1 (Models of Regulation) covers the objectives and benefits of regulation, how law and regulation interact, rules-based versus principles-based approaches, self-regulation and Islamic finance, extra-territorial laws (GDPR, MiFID, MAR, EMIR, SOX, the UK Bribery Act, FCPA, FATCA, CRS), trading venue structures, OTC derivatives and FinTech. Section 2 (The International Approach to Regulation) covers regulator jurisdiction, the BIS, FSB, IOSCO, European bodies, SEC and ISSB, the five supervisory approaches, IOSCO Principles 1 to 8, enforcement powers, regulated activities, firm requirements and cross-border business.
What the exam focuses on
- The five objectives of regulation: confidence and trust, economic development, fewer market and system failures, consumer protection, less financial crime (§1.1).
- Rules-based (detailed procedures, tick-box) versus principles-based (behaviour and outcomes, the firm's own responsibility for applying them) (§1.3, §2.3).
- The purpose and reach of each cross-border law: GDPR (fine up to 4% of global turnover or EUR 20 million, 72-hour breach notice), MAR, EMIR, SOX Section 404, UK Bribery Act (failure to prevent, adequate procedures), FCPA, FATCA, CRS (§1.5).
Show 5 more
- Trading venue types: recognised exchange, MTF, OTF and systematic internaliser (SI), and what separates them on discretion and transparency (§1.6).
- OTC derivative problems exposed by the financial crisis (transparency, counterparty risk, operational risk) and the fixes: trade repositories and central clearing (§1.7).
- The roles of the BIS, BCBS, FSB, IOSCO, ESAs, ESRB, SEC and ISSB, and whether their output is legally binding (§2.2).
- The five supervisory approaches (risk-based, rules-based, thematic, relationship-based, principles-based), IOSCO's three objectives and IOSCO Principles 1 to 8 on the regulator (§2.2.3, §2.3, §2.4).
- Firm requirements (entry standards, fit and proper test, capital, internal compliance function) and cross-border business (MoU, home and host, supervisory colleges, passport) (§2.7, §2.8).
Common traps
- Law and regulation are not the same thing: law sets the framework and regulation holds the detailed rules that implement it. Industry and internal codes can go beyond what is legally binding (§1.2).
- Do not assume a regulator uses one pure approach. Most follow one predominantly and borrow from the other, including the US, once seen as purely rules-based (§1.3, §2.3.2).
- The risk-based approach is not a zero-failure approach, and it does not excuse anyone from mitigating risks assessed as low (§2.3.1).
Show 5 more
- An OTF and an MTF share the same transparency rules, but an OTF uses discretion in matching and cannot trade equities, while an MTF has no such discretion. One legal entity cannot run both an OTF and an SI (§1.6.2).
- International standards (Basel, FSB policies, IOSCO principles) have no legal force on their own and bind only when countries put them into national law. The FSB is not a treaty-based body (§2.2).
- Under CRS, tax residency decides reporting, not citizenship. FATCA reaches firms outside the US through intergovernmental agreements (§1.5.3).
- Mixing up home and host: structure, regulatory capital and authorisation belong to the home supervisor, while customer dealings are mostly for the host supervisor (§2.8.1).
- Confusing the European bodies: the three ESAs (EBA, ESMA, EIOPA) develop technical standards and coordinate supervision, while the ESRB handles macroprudential oversight (§2.2.4).
Try the flashcards
Tap a card to see the answer
What is the difference between a rules-based and a principles-based approach?
Rules are detailed procedures followed precisely. Principles focus on behaviour and outcomes and leave the firm to decide how to comply (§1.3).
What is the maximum GDPR fine?
4% of the previous year's global annual turnover or EUR 20 million, whichever is greater (§1.5.1).
Within how many hours must a data breach that risks individuals' rights be reported?
Within 72 hours of the processor becoming aware of it (§1.5.1).
What defence does the UK Bribery Act give against failing to prevent bribery?
Showing the organisation had adequate procedures in place (§1.5.3).
Which SOX section requires management to report on internal controls?
Section 404: an annual report on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting, which auditors attest to (§1.5.2).
In CRS, is reporting based on citizenship or tax residency?
Tax residency is the deciding factor, not citizenship (§1.5.3).
What distinguishes an OTF from an MTF?
An OTF uses discretion in matching orders and cannot trade equities. Pre- and post-trade transparency rules are the same (§1.6.2).
Which two main measures were taken to fix the OTC derivatives market?
Reporting to a trade repository (for transparency) and central clearing of eligible contracts (to cut counterparty risk) (§1.7).
Why you can trust these questions
- Published questions: 558. We reviewed every one before publishing it: the answer, the explanation of each option and the source.
- Exam facts last checked against the organiser’s website: 2026-10-31. We check them again every three months and two weeks before each test.
- Found a mistake? Tap "Report an error" under any question in the practice area, or email us at support@saudiexams.com
- Independent website. Not affiliated with ETEC (Qiyas), the Financial Academy or any government body.
Update log
- 2026-10-31 Free diagnostic test: 10 questions covering all five chapters, with every option explained and your weakest chapters shown.
- 2026-10-31 Published the exam facts from the Financial Academy page and the workbook.