UAE PDPA Compliance Guide
The UAE Personal Data Protection Act (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021) establishes the framework for personal data protection in the UAE. It applies to any entity processing personal data of UAE residents.
Overview
The UAE PDPA shares similarities with GDPR but includes provisions specific to the UAE context, including cross-border data transfer requirements and sector-specific regulations.
Key Requirements
- Obtain clear and explicit consent before data processing
- Provide transparency about data collection purposes
- Implement data security measures proportional to the risk
- Register with the UAE Data Office for large-scale processors
- Enable data portability and the right to be forgotten
- Report breaches to the UAE Data Office
Cross-Border Transfers
Transferring personal data outside the UAE requires either the receiving country to have adequate data protection laws or the data controller to implement appropriate safeguards (contractual clauses, binding corporate rules, or consent).
Compliance Checklist
Deploy consent management
Install Arqam360 with opt-in consent model.
Map your data flows
Identify all personal data collection points and processing activities.
Review cross-border transfers
Ensure data transferred outside UAE has proper safeguards.
Set up DSAR handling
Configure automated responses for data subject requests.
Was this article helpful?