UAE PDPL Compliance
Operationalize the UAE Federal Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021). Continuous evidence collection, pre-mapped controls and a clear path from "in scope" to "audit-ready".
Why teams choose this
Pre-mapped controls
Every UAE PDPL control mapped to evidence and integrations — out of the box.
Audit-ready evidence
Generate auditor-ready UAE PDPL evidence packs in minutes.
Continuous testing
Controls are tested every day, not once a year.
Gap analysis
Immediate visibility into where your environment falls short of UAE PDPL.
What's included
- Pre-loaded UAE PDPL control library
- Automated evidence collection
- Real-time gap analysis & roadmap
- Auditor collaboration portal
- Cross-framework re-use of evidence
How it works
- 01Connect
Add your domain or vendor list — no agents, no DNS changes. UAE PDPL alignment starts within minutes.
- 02Analyze
Our engine continuously ingests open-source intelligence, scan data and threat feeds to produce an objective risk score.
- 03Act
Receive prioritized remediations, alerts and exportable evidence — share with your team, board or auditors.
UAE PDPL Compliance — frequently asked questions
- What is the UAE PDPL?
- The UAE Personal Data Protection Law — Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 — is the first federal data-protection statute covering the United Arab Emirates. Issued in November 2021 and supervised by the UAE Data Office, it sets out lawful basis, data-subject rights, controller and processor obligations, cross-border transfer rules and breach notification duties for personal data processed in the UAE.
- Who must comply with the UAE PDPL?
- Any controller or processor — whether established in the UAE or not — that processes the personal data of data subjects residing in the UAE, or that processes UAE personal data from outside the country. Exemptions apply to government entities, DIFC and ADGM (which have their own DP laws), security and judicial data, and personal/household use.
- How does the UAE PDPL differ from DIFC DP Law 2020 and ADGM DPR 2021?
- The federal PDPL covers onshore UAE; DIFC and ADGM free zones operate their own GDPR-aligned regimes (DIFC Data Protection Law No. 5 of 2020 and ADGM Data Protection Regulations 2021). Most multinationals run a single GDPR-grade programme and map down to all three — SecurityRating.com cross-maps controls automatically.
- What are the UAE PDPL cross-border transfer rules?
- Transfers are permitted to jurisdictions on the UAE Data Office adequacy list, or where appropriate safeguards (contractual clauses, BCRs, explicit consent, or specific derogations under Article 23) are in place. Sensitive personal data and biometric data face additional impact-assessment and Data Office notification requirements.
- When must a breach be reported under UAE PDPL?
- Controllers must notify the UAE Data Office without undue delay once a breach is likely to pose a risk to data subjects' privacy, confidentiality or security, and notify affected individuals when the risk is high. SecurityRating.com automates the 72-hour-style timeline tracking, evidence collation and Data Office notification artefacts.
Related capabilities
Ready to see UAE PDPL Compliance in action?
Talk to our team about a 30-minute walkthrough tailored to your environment, or run a free non-intrusive scan of any domain.