Tag archives: UAE

UAE bans exporting health data and restricts domestic use

By Hani Ghattas on April 24, 2019 Posted in Compliance and risk management

Norton Rose Fulbright - Data Protection Report blog

In March of this year, the UAE issued Law No. 2 of 2019 Concerning the Use of Information and Communication Technology in the Area of Health (the Healthcare Data Law), which governs the use of health data and information generated in the UAE. The law takes effect three months after issuance.… Continue reading

UAE Outlaws Sales of Personal Data and Increases Fines for Companies

By on November 20, 2016 Posted in Compliance and risk management, Cybercrime

Data Protection Report - Norton Rose Fulbright

The United Arab Emirates Penal Code was amended with effect from October 29, 2016 to outlaw the copying, distribution or disclosure of information that a person obtains in the course of their employment. This new offence will target company insiders (or service providers) unlawfully dealing in personal data. Other changes to the Penal Code will … Continue reading

UAE Employees Jailed for Privacy Breach Before Ultimately Being Acquitted

By on June 12, 2016 Posted in Compliance and risk management, Cybercrime

A recently-reported court case in the United Arab Emirates has highlighted the importance of establishing and implementing good privacy practices, even in the absence of specific data protection legislation. In late 2014, the UAE public prosecutor charged three officials from a federal authority – the general director, a branch manager and an IT manager – … Continue reading

Dubai issues Open Data Law

By on March 3, 2016 Posted in Regulatory response

Dubai has issued a new law regulating the dissemination and exchange of data in the Emirate. This is one of the first open data initiatives in the Middle East and is being promoted by the Prime Minister’s office as a significant step forward in Dubai’s cyber legislation and smart city ambitions.… Continue reading

UAE copyright law protects privacy of photography subjects

By on August 24, 2015 Posted in Compliance and risk management

While the Duke of Cambridge’s request for global media to respect the privacy of his son, Prince George, has started a debate over the extent to which individuals in the UK can rely on legal measures to prevent the publication of intrusive photographs, the position is somewhat clearer in the United Arab Emirates with specific … Continue reading

Employee privacy regulations on the agenda for Abu Dhabi Global Market

By on January 29, 2015 Posted in General

Omnibus data privacy laws are few and far between in the Middle East. None of the six states of the Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC)—which comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates—have issued national privacy legislation, although several have draft regulations under consideration. By contrast, the financial “free zone” jurisdictions of … Continue reading