Sheikh Mohammed issues new law regulating provision of digital services in Dubai

Government bodies and judicial authorities as well as non-government entities in Dubai are required to provide digital services to their customers

by Varun Godinho

April 5, 2022

A new law has been issued in Dubai regulating the provision of digital services in the emirate.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued Law No. (9) of 2022 that aims to promote the digitisation of services in public and private sectors.

Accordingly, government entities and judicial authorities, including Dubai Courts and Dubai Public Prosecution, as well as non-government entities in Dubai, are required to provide digital services to their customers, according to a statement posted on Sheikh Mohammed’s website.

The law outlines the conditions for providing digital services and adopting digital identities for obtaining subscribed services; as well as cybersecurity requirements set by Dubai Electronic Security Centre.

It also covers the conditions for electronic payment solutions approved by the Department of Finance in Dubai; service continuity in the event of disruptions; digital services approved by the Digital Dubai Authority; and provision of services in Arabic, English and other languages.

Also, digital services provided in Dubai must be user-friendly and accessible to People of Determination at no extra fee. The Digital Dubai Authority, in coordination with the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai and the Dubai Electronic Security Center, can exempt an entity from any of these conditions.

.@HHShkMohd issues Law regulating the provision of digital services in #Dubai https://t.co/ESKZGVXfzw pic.twitter.com/La8nkclt5Q

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 4, 2022

Customers meanwhile are required to update their information submitted to digital service providers and adhere to terms and conditions outlined by the entity. Under the new law, customers will be held accountable for misusing the service and not adhering to stipulated procedures.

An entity can outsource its digital services to a public or private company, subject to the approval of relevant authorities and the Department of Finance. The outsourcing contract should clearly outline the responsibilities of each party, including contract duration and confidentiality requirements, as well as the rules for providing digital services.

The statement added that the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai will issue a decision on the various stages of implementing the law, in line with the recommendations of the Digital Dubai Authority.

The Director General of the Digital Dubai Authority, in coordination with the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai, will issue the decisions and technical requirements necessary to implement the law. The technical requirements of the new law will be published on the Digital Dubai Authority’s official website.

All digital service providers in Dubai are required to abide by the provisions of the law within a year of its implementation. However, the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai can extend this deadline for a similar period based on the recommendations of the Digital Dubai Authority. The law also states that federal and local legislations on digital transactions and digital signatures will apply to digital services in Dubai.

In a related move to automate government services in Dubai, last month, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, approved the Services 360 policy which aims to enhance government services provided by the Dubai Government. The initiative is expected to achieve annual financial savings exceeding Dhs1bn over the next five years and the elimination of nine million physical customer visits to service centers annually. The policy has set a number of goals for providing services, including100 per cent proactive and automated services; 90 per cent integrated services; and 90 per cent service provision without the physical presence of the customer.

Read: Sheikh Hamdan approves Services 360 policy to improve Dubai Government services