<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-07-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001166388</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VERINT SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VRNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208483</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPERLING MEIR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>33 MASKIT.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HERZLIYA PETUACH L3</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>L3</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46733</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ISRAEL</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, APAC</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>27200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>58500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each respresents a contingent right to receive one share of Verint common stock. 33% of the award vests on the later to occur of (1) March 15, 2008 and (2)(a)  Verint becoming compliant with its reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;) and (b) shares of Verint's common stock being listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation The Nasdaq Global Market (the events in clauses (a) and (b) collectively referred to as the &quot;Compliance Event&quot;); 33% on the later of (1) March 15, 2009 and (2) the Compliance Event; and 34% on the later of (1) July 2, 2010 and (2) the Compliance Event.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each represents a contingent right to receive one share of Verint common stock.  The award vests (1) 50% on the later to occur of March 15, 2008 and the Compliance Event and (2) 50% on the later to occur of July 2, 2010 and the Compliance Event.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter D. Fante as Attorney in Fact for Meir Sperling</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
