ADGM Data Protection Regulations, comprehensive regime

ADGM Data Protection Regulations 2021 (consolidated February 2024)

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What follows is LexLint's own research summary of this law, not legal advice.

In force since 14 February 2021.

A comprehensive regime rule binding private bodies.

As of 29 August 2026.

What it requires

An app that is a controller or processor established in or targeting the ADGM free zone must establish a lawful basis for processing personal data, and must obtain explicit consent or another qualifying condition before processing a faceprint, voiceprint, or other biometric identifier, including one derived from a photo, video, or audio recording.

What it reaches

Excludes recording-derived identifiersNo

What this law does

Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.

The ADGM Data Protection Regulations are the equivalent statute of the Abu Dhabi Global Market free zone (Abu Dhabi's Al Maryah and Al Reem Island financial free zone), enforced by ADGM's own Commissioner of Data Protection under ADGM's separate court system, and apply only within that free-zone footprint, not to a UAE business operating outside it. The text relied on here is the consolidated version as amended through February 2024.

The exact original 2021 commencement date is not confirmed against primary text, so 14 February 2021 rests on the corpus's own record rather than on primary confirmation. Section 1's Biometric Data definition names facial images and dactyloscopic data as worked examples, with the same adequacy-plus-alternative-safeguards cross-border transfer structure as the federal PDPL and DIFC Law. No source-based exclusion for a recording-derived biometric identifier was found.

When LexLint raises it

crawls_web
trains_models
generates_content
deploys_chatbot
automated_outreach
high_risk_decisions
processes_voice
processes_biometrics

Read the law

official consolidated Regulations text (PDF), ADGM rulebook

Every line above is drawn from the primary source linked here, read on the date shown. This is a research summary, not legal advice.

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