Personal data protection in the United Arab Emirates and the European Union regulations

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Abstract

In our digital age, the exchange of personal data has become an integral part of daily life, with smartphones and the internet serving as conduits for this information. However, this practice brings forth many legal complexities concerning data privacy, highlighting the need to safeguard personal information. This research explores the significance of protecting personal data while drawing parallels with the fundamental right to privacy and the confidentiality of correspondence (Ali, 2021). Moreover, the study delves into the European Union’s (EU) acknowledgment of personal data protection as a fundamental right. It employs a comparative analytical approach to scrutinize the implications of Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021 and its relationship with the amendments introduced to the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018. Despite both legal frameworks sharing the overarching objective of safeguarding personal data, they diverge in terms of scope, applicability, and regional context. These distinctions may potentially give rise to challenges and incompatibilities. This research highlights the evolving landscape of data protection and underscores the increasing importance of achieving harmonization and compliance in our interconnected world (AlShamisi, 2023).

Keywords: EU, General Data Protection Regulation, The United Arab Emirates, Right to Privacy, Personal Data, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines

Authors’ individual contribution: Conceptualization — A.A., M.E.K., and A.Z.; Methodology — M.E.K. and A.Z.; Resources — A.A., M.E.K., and A.Z.; Writing — Original Draft — A.A., M.E.K., and A.Z.; Writing — Review & Editing — A.A., M.E.K., and A.Z.; Supervision — A.A.; Project Administration — A.A. and M.E.K.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: K10, K15, K19, K24

Received: 12.06.2023
Accepted: 30.01.2024
Published online: 01.02.2024

How to cite this paper: Abouahmed, A., Kandeel, M. E., & Zakaria, A. (2024). Personal data protection in the United Arab Emirates and the European Union regulations. Journal of Governance & Regulation, 13(1), 195–202. https://doi.org/10.22495/jgrv13i1art17