The Role of Regulations in Data Privacy Protection in the UAE (Research Paper Sample)

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The Role of Regulations in Data Privacy Protection in the UAE
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Introduction
In recent decades, information and communication (ICT) technologies such as the internet, cloud computing, mobile devices, and wireless technologies have been on the rise. Multinational companies with data-driven business models such as Facebook, Amazon, and Uber have also emerged, leading to global concerns over the collection and use of personal data by organizations. The need to protect personal and non-personal data is earmarked by the development of new regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions, which aim to enhance privacy and accountability in the use of consumer data1. While developed nations such as the United States and the EU have made significant strides in enacting laws to deal with privacy and data protection, the UAE has no federally acceptable law dealing with data privacy protection. This is despite the country’s rapid digital transformation and the emergence of Dubai and Abu Dhabi as major business hubs in the MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) and globally. This paper examines the role of regulations in data and privacy protection and whether the regulations are adequate to guide relations between businesses and consumers.
Overview of the Data Privacy Scene in the UAE
Currently, the UAE does not have a comprehensive and unified data protection law, nor does it have a dedicated data protection regulatory authority. However, the UAE constitution recognizes the right to privacy in accordance with Sharia law. Article 31 of the constitution provides the right to freedom and confidentiality in communication by telegraph, post, or other means1. In addition to the constitutional right to privacy, a number of federal laws provide for the protection of personal data, including:
[(Bomah 2016)]
* Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 (the Penal Code) – the Penal Code criminalizes the disclosure of secret