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Category Archives: United Arab Emirates

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DIFC Proposes to Amend Data Protection Rules to Regulate Use of AI

The Dubai International Financial Centre urges companies to protect personal data when using artificial intelligence. By Brian A. Meenagh, Ksenia Koroleva, and Lucy Tucker  On 18 April 2023, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a financial free zone with its own data protection laws, published a consultation paper (the Consultation Paper) regarding amendments to DIFC Data Protection … Continue Reading

Ready for Takeoff: A Look at the Space Sector in the Middle East

The Middle East’s rapidly advancing space sector has seen a slew of landmark achievements in the last few years. By Alexander Hendry In 2014, the UAE established the UAE Space Agency to oversee and grow its space sector, and it has since successfully completed numerous projects. In July 2020, it became the fifth country in … Continue Reading

UAE Central Bank Issues Guidance on Anti-Money Laundering Risks in the Payment Sector

The guidance is part of the rapidly evolving rules on anti-money laundering and aims to promote UAE as a jurisdiction compliant with best practices. By Brian Meenagh, Ksenia Koroleva, and Matthew Rodwell On August 1, 2022, the UAE Central Bank (CBUAE) issued the Guidance for Licensed Financial Institutions on the Risks Relating to Payments.[1] The … Continue Reading

UAE Publishes First Federal Data Protection Law

Organisations subject to the law should carry out a gap analysis of their current compliance position against the new requirements. By Brian A. Meenagh, Alexander Hendry, and Lucy Tucker The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued its first federal data protection law (Federal Decree Law No. 45/2021 on the Protection of Personal Data) (the Data … Continue Reading

UAE Decision on Health Data Law Provides Clarity

The decision will likely provide comfort to businesses operating in the healthcare sector both in the UAE and globally. By Brian A. Meenagh and Avinash Balendran On 28 April 2021 the United Arab Emirates (UAE) federal government issued Ministerial Decision No. 51 of 2021 (the Decision) to clarify when health information may be stored or transferred outside of … Continue Reading

New UAE Health Law Enters Into Effect

Healthcare entities should immediately assess whether Federal Law No. 2 of 2019 applies to their practices. By Brian A. Meenagh On 6 February 2019, the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in conjunction with the UAE Minister of Health and Prevention (the Minister) issued a new law on the use of information and communications … Continue Reading

DIFC Issues New Direct Marketing and Electronic Communications Guidelines

The DIFC guidelines provide practical guidance for DIFC-registered entities engaging in electronic direct marketing, including useful “dos” and “don’ts”. By Brian A. Meenagh, Fiona M. Maclean, and Laura Holden What Do DIFC-Registered Entities Need to Know? In January 2019, the Commissioner for Data Protection for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) issued new Direct Marketing … Continue Reading

UAE Free Zone Navigator

United Arab Emirates (UAE) free zones are attractive jurisdictions for early and growth-stage companies. Free zones are designed to encourage startups and foreign investors through simpler processes and procedures, permiting 100% foreign ownership. However, the more than 45 free zones in the UAE each have their own  rules and regulations, so choosing the right free … Continue Reading

Key Considerations for Middle East Entities Looking to Invest in US Technology Companies

Four of Latham & Watkins’ leading emerging company partners in Silicon Valley, Luke Bergstrom, Tad Freese, Jim Morrone and JD Marple, recently hosted a webinar titled “Achieving Successful Outcomes as a Non-US Company Investing in or Acquiring Technology Companies in Silicon Valley”. The webinar can be viewed here. In this blog we have sought to … Continue Reading

The Legal Landscape for Drones in the UAE

The use of “unmanned aerial systems” or “drones” for commercial, government and consumer purposes has significantly increased in recent years across the globe. In the UAE, the office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, introduced the Drones for Good Award at the Government Summit held in Dubai … Continue Reading

The Legal Status of Bitcoin in the United Arab Emirates

This is the first in a series of articles considering legal issues relating to bitcoin, cryptocurrencies and blockchain in the UAE. In this article we focus on the legal status of bitcoin and address the question of whether bitcoin is banned in the UAE. In part two we will consider the case for regulating bitcoin … Continue Reading

United Arab Emirates – the New Digital Payments Regulatory Landscape

New Regulations balance innovation in the payments sector with safety, security and maintaining the public’s trust in the UAE payment ecosystem. After a long period of consultation, on 1 January 2017 the Central Bank in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued the Regulatory Framework for Stored Values and Electronic Payment Systems (Electronic Payment Regulation). The … Continue Reading

Climate Change Further Threatens MENA Water Security

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is home to 14 of the 33 most water scarce countries globally, with six times less water availability than the worldwide average and less than 2 percent of the world’s renewable water supply. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia … Continue Reading

Telemedicine in the UAE

Telemedicine is a product of 20th century information and communication technologies. It is generally defined as the provision of healthcare services from a healthcare professional to a patient from a remote location using a telephone or the internet. International and local health providers are increasingly looking to provide telemedicine services in the region, specifically in … Continue Reading

6 Unique Challenges for Protecting and Exploiting Intellectual Property in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an attractive global business centre and gateway to the wider Middle East region for international companies seeking to commercialise and exploit their brands, products and technologies. However, the UAE is often considered to present risks from an intellectual property (IP) infringement perspective – a perception that potentially can undermine … Continue Reading

3 Key Considerations Before You Begin Outsourcing in Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the UAE

Outsourcing has historically not been a major pillar in Middle East public and private sector organisation’s strategic architecture. While the benefits of outsourcing are understood and recognised, organisations have sought to engage with major outsourced service providers through managed service agreements and joint ventures. This approach has generally worked well. It has enabled local organisations … Continue Reading

Abu Dhabi Global Market Publishes New Commercial Regulations and begins Financial Regulation Consultation

On 15 June 2015, the Abu Dhabi Global Market (Global Market), Abu Dhabi’s financial free zone, published the following six new regulations concerning the regulation of non-financial services in the Global Market: – Application of English Law Regulations; – Companies Regulations; – Operating Regulations; – Insolvency Regulations; – Employment Regulations; and – Real Property Regulations. … Continue Reading

Financing the Middle East’s Shopping Spree

The continuing strong economic conditions of the UAE and other GCC economies has led to an upsurge in consumer spending in recent years. With retail sales in the region expected to reach US$284.5 billion by 2018, the need to meet the growing demand for consumer goods has led to a boom in planned shopping mall … Continue Reading

How Oil and Gas Companies can Optimize Technology Performance and Costs During Oil Price Volatility

An unexpected surge in production coupled with weakened global demand has resulted in a 50 percent drop in the price of crude oil since June 2014 and currently averaging US$50 a barrel. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced it would leave market forces to determine crude oil price and would not cut … Continue Reading

What You Need to Know About Abu Dhabi Global Market’s New Draft Regulations

The Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi’s new financial free zone, located on Al Maryah Island, recently issued a first wave of draft regulations and related consultation papers. The Global Market’s general approach in the draft regulations follows very closely the  English law model. In particular, the Global Market is proposing to apply English common … Continue Reading

As Bitcoin Gains Momentum, Focus on Regulation Increases

The virtual currency market has emerged in the United Arab Emirates with Dubai’s first Bitcoin ATM introduced in April 2014. Middle East entrepreneurs have begun launching Bitcoin payment products and SMEs are beginning to realise the potential of such technology, with The Pizza Guys becoming the first restaurant in the UAE to accept Bitcoin payments. … Continue Reading

Is Green Sukuk a Viable Option for Clean Energy Initiatives in the GCC?

A number of GCC governments, including those in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have set ambitious clean energy and energy efficiency targets. As the fastest growing region in the world, the GCC’s population is expected to grow more than 53 million by 2020. Substantial amounts of investments will be required to finance the clean energy … Continue Reading
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