Technology Policy Hub

Promotes secure digital payment systems by creating a licensing and compliance regulatory scheme for electronic payment service providers in the UAE. This law establishes categories of Payment Service Providers (PSPs) which have tailored regulatory requirements. In addition to creating a licensing framework, this law creates comprehensive consumer protection measures for PSPs to comply with.

Protects the rights of persons doing business electronically, determines obligations of various parties, and encourages and facilitates electronic transactions and communications by means of reliable electronic records.

Defines consumer’s rights and obligations and outlines protection measures against monopolistic pricing, overpricing, and fraudulent commercial activities against consumers, including the right to have multiple options of goods and services at competitive prices and quality.

Addresses and imposes penalties on criminal activities that misuse IT systems, as well as inappropriate behavior online, including hacking, fraud, defamation, national security threats, religious intolerance, and other antisocial acts.

Amends Article 9 of Law 5 of 2012 on Combating Cybercrimes by criminalizing the use of VPNs/proxies/third-party IP addresses for the purpose of committing crimes or preventing its discovery. Penalties can include imprisonment and/or a fine between 500,000 AED to 2,000,000 AED.

Explicitly criminalizes discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnic identity and acts that trigger religious hatred, insults religion, or promotes discrimination. This law also targets groups or entities which provoke hatred and outlaws meetings or conferences which encourage discrimination or hatred. Penalties include fines from 50,000 AED to 2 million AED and/or imprisonment from six months to a maximum of ten years. 

Targets internet-based service providers and outlines the criteria for prohibited content and illegal activities that providers must block from their platforms.

Follows the Electronic Media Regulations and provides a comprehensive overview and guidance on the regulations governing advertising and media in the UAE. Social media is an area of emphasis in the guide. It notes that ads on social media should be clearly presented with no ambiguity. 

Establishes licensing requirements, content standards for media outlets, including digital media. Prohibits the creation and dissemination of content deemed disrespectful to the UAE and religion, spreading fake news, defamation, invasion of privacy.

Published by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), this white paper offers "do's" and "don'ts" of social media use in the UAE. This white paper emphasizes that posting images or videos of people without their consent is illegal and can be punished with a prison sentence of six months and/or a fine of AED 500,000.  

These regulations require entities wishing to conduct certain electronic media activities to have a license. This licensure requirement applies to all electronic media activities carried out in the UAE, including the free zone. Notably, any advertising activities on social media platforms, including by influencers, requires a license from the National Media Council. 

Assures access to government data and includes data protection requirements for personal or commercially sensitive data. 

Focuses on establishing data protection rules related to health data and information in the UAE. This law creates a regulatory framework to ensure health data is protected in accordance with international norms. In addition to requiring healthcare data to be held confidentially, it prohibits the transfer, storage, generation or processing health information abroad without permission from the Ministry of Health. Online content related to healthcare is also governed by this act. It provides the Ministry of Health the authority block website which violate the UAE's standards for healthcare advertising. 

Restricts provision of VoIP services to licensed entities and permits licensed telcos to block VoIP services over their networks. 

Establishes regulations, standards, permitting processes for operating limousine and private hire car services in Abu Dhabi. 

Provides the Public Transport Agency the power to regulate the franchising and operation of taxis in Dubai, as well as authority to authorize the operation of on-demand passenger transport services. 

These regulations assign Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) the authority to regulate the holiday home rental market. These regulations outline the classification criteria of holiday home rentals and their respective requirements for registration.

Establishes the regulatory environment to achieve the objectives of the UAE’s National Space Policy. Requires all individuals and entities engaged in space-related activities to obtain a permit and regulates the launch, operations, and removal of space objects.