UAE Promotes Digital Services in Public and Private Sectors

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

As per this law Government entities and judicial authorities, including Dubai Courts and Dubai Public Prosecution, as well as non-government entities in Dubai, are now required to provide digital services to the customers.

From now on federal and local legislation on digital transactions and digital signatures will apply to digital services in Dubai.

The law tends to provide the conditions for digital services and adopt digital identities for obtaining subscribed services along with cybersecurity requirements set by the Dubai Electronic Security Centre.

It further tends to cover the conditions for electronic payment solutions, service continuity in the event of disruptions, and provision of services in Arabic, English, and other languages.

Government departments will now have to offer online services in multiple languages and at no extra cost to the customers which makes digital services more user-friendly and accessible.

The customers on the other hand are required to update their information submitted to digital service providers and adhere to terms and conditions as under the new law customers will be held accountable for misusing the service and not adhering to stipulated procedures.

Government entities, as well as non-government entities, can outsource their digital services to a public or private company after the approval of relevant authorities and the Department of Finance.

The Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai along with the recommendations of the Digital Dubai Authority will issue a decision on the various stages of implementing the law.

In coordination with the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai, the Director-General of the Digital Dubai Authority will issue the decisions and technical requirements which will be necessary to implement the law. The technical requirements of the new law will be published on Digital Dubai Authority.

All the digital service providers in Dubai will now be required to abide by the provisions of this new law within a year of its implementation. However, on the recommendations of the Digital Dubai Authority the Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai can extend this deadline for a similar period.

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