Federal Decree-Law on the Protection of Personal Data, enforcement and supervision

Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021, Arts. 25-26

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

In force since 2 January 2022.

An enforcement supervision rule binding private bodies.

As of 29 August 2026.

What it requires

An app processing the personal data of an individual in the onshore UAE must be prepared to answer to the Bureau's supervisory powers; administrative penalty amounts are set by a separate Council of Ministers decision rather than the Decree-Law itself.

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 UAE Data Office ("the Bureau", established by Federal Decree-Law No. 44 of 2021) is the federal supervisory authority. A grievance against a Bureau decision goes to the Bureau itself first under Art. 25. Administrative penalty amounts are not set in the Decree-Law itself: Art. 26 requires a separate Council of Ministers decision, on the General Director's recommendation, to list violations and set administrative penalties.

No provision creating a private right of action for a Data Subject to sue a Controller directly has been located; the point is not established rather than a confirmed absence.

When LexLint raises it

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Read the law

official statute text, UAE Legislation portal

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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