Compliance software · United Arab Emirates

Data protection and GRC compliance software for UAE businesses

A UAE business may answer to the federal Personal Data Protection Law, the DIFC or ADGM data protection regimes, sector regulators and the UAE Information Assurance Standard — sometimes all at once. AI Pazz Govnex holds each regime's controls, risks and evidence in one governed workspace.

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In short

Onshore UAE organisations follow Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on Personal Data Protection (PDPL), with its executive regulations setting the detail; companies in the DIFC and ADGM free zones follow their own data protection laws instead. Government entities and their suppliers also follow the UAE Information Assurance Standard. Govnex keeps each as a control set with owners, evidence and reports.

Reviewed . A plain-language guide, not legal advice — check the regulator's site for the current position.

The laws and rules that apply in United Arab Emirates

What each asks of a business, who it applies to, what happens if you fall short — and whether Govnex holds it as a ready-made control set.

UAE PDPL

Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on Personal Data Protection (PDPL)

Track it with your own controls
Regulator
UAE Data Office
Who it applies to
Organisations processing personal data in the UAE outside the financial free zones, and those abroad processing the data of people in the UAE.
If you fall short
Administrative penalties set by the executive regulations.
What it asks of you
  • A lawful basis — generally consent — and transparency for processing
  • Data subject rights of access, correction, erasure and objection
  • Security measures, and notifying the Data Office of breaches that risk privacy
  • A Data Protection Officer in the cases the law and its regulations specify
  • Conditions on transfers outside the UAE

Much of the detail depends on the executive regulations — check their current status with your adviser.

Source: u.ae

DIFC DPL

DIFC Data Protection Law No. 5 of 2020

Track it with your own controls
Regulator
DIFC Commissioner of Data Protection
Who it applies to
Entities registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
If you fall short
Administrative fines set by the law and the Commissioner.
What it asks of you
  • Annual notification to the Commissioner and a record of processing
  • A DPO for high-risk processing, and DPIAs
  • Breach notification to the Commissioner and data subjects

Source: difc.ae

ADGM DPR

ADGM Data Protection Regulations 2021

Track it with your own controls
Regulator
ADGM Office of Data Protection
Who it applies to
Entities registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
If you fall short
Fines under the regulations.
What it asks of you
  • GDPR-style principles, records, DPIAs and a DPO where required
  • Breach notification to the Office of Data Protection

Source: adgm.com

UAE IA Standard

UAE Information Assurance (IA) Standard

Track it with your own controls
Regulator
UAE Cyber Security Council
Who it applies to
Federal government entities, critical sectors and the suppliers that serve them.
If you fall short
A condition of government and critical-sector work.
What it asks of you
  • Management and technical information assurance controls, applied by risk and priority

Source: u.ae

Standards United Arab Emirates buyers ask for

How AI Pazz Govnex helps in United Arab Emirates

What you needHow Govnex does itModule
PDPL, DIFC or ADGM obligationsAdd the regime that applies to you as your own control set, assign owners and collect evidence.
Records and DPIAsA register of processing activities with data, owners, purposes and transfers.
IA Standard and ISO 27001Adopt ISO 27001 and add IA Standard controls; track priority and evidence.
Risk and continuityRisk registers with treatments, and continuity plans against ISO 22301.
Keeping up with new regulationsRecord each new law or regulation, what it asks and who owns the work.

Your first 90 days

  1. 1Decide which regime applies: onshore PDPL, DIFC, ADGM — and any sector regulator.
  2. 2Add that regime's obligations and ISO 27001 as control sets and assign owners.
  3. 3Map the personal data you hold and where it is transferred.
  4. 4Put breach notification and data subject request processes in place.
  5. 5Report your position to management and plan certification.

Start with what applies to you

Adopt the control sets that fit, add your own for the rest, and give every control an owner. The first months are free.

Start free

Compliance in United Arab Emirates: questions and answers

Which data protection law applies to my UAE company?
Onshore companies follow the federal PDPL (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021). Companies in the DIFC or ADGM free zones follow those zones' own data protection laws. Healthcare and financial firms may also answer to sector regulators.
Does the UAE PDPL require a Data Protection Officer?
In certain cases — for example large-scale processing of sensitive data or processing that poses a high risk. The executive regulations set out the detail.
Can our data stay in the UAE?
Dedicated Hosting runs your own deployment with data and files stored in the Azure region you choose, including UAE regions.
Is the UAE PDPL in the Govnex Library?
Not yet as a ready-made set — add its obligations as your own controls. ISO 27001, NIST CSF, ISO 22301 and SOC 2 are ready-made.
Can Govnex handle several regimes at once?
Yes — each is its own control set, tracked in one register with shared owners and evidence, so a DIFC entity and an onshore sister company can be run side by side.
What else does Govnex include?
Policies, risk registers, issues, internal audits, regulatory change, a data register and ESG & EHS in one workspace.

Modules United Arab Emirates teams start with

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