Abu Dhabi Global Market
Summary
Law: Data Protection Regulations 2021
Regulator: The ADGM Registration Authority, the Board of Directors of the ADGM, and the Office of Data Protection ('ODP')
Summary: The Abu Dhabi Global Market ('ADGM') is a Financial Free Zone within the UAE, which itself is a Federation composed of seven Emirates. Being a Financial Free Zone means that UAE federal civil and commercial law does not apply, and the ADGM is able to create its own legal and regulatory framework for all civil and commercial matters.
In the ADGM, the Data Protection Regulations 2021, enacted on 14 February 2021, govern the processing of personal data by persons operating in the Free Zone. In particular, the regulations provide for a 12 month transition period for current establishments, as well as for a six months transition period for new establishments, to commence from 14 February 2021. The aim of the regulations is to bring the ADGM data protection regime in line with international standards like the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) ('GDPR').