In recent years, countries in the Middle East have taken a number of initiatives to transform their economies. In the field of digital economy and e-commerce, China has established regional digital cooperation organizations, released a common vision for the digital economy, and successively introduced policies and measures to support cross-border e-commerce, attaching importance to data and privacy protection, and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of online shopping consumers. Improving the legal environment for e-commerce through legislation has provided a good development environment for cross-border e-commerce enterprises.
In line with the UAE's Vision 2031 and improving the country's competitiveness in the current business environment, the UAE has enacted a new e-commerce law.
Introducing the bill, UAE Deputy Minister of Economy Abdullah Ahmed Al Sali stressed that the UAE is transitioning to a resilient economic model based on innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
In addition, the country has a competitive and flexible economic and legislative environment at the regional and global levels, providing an attractive business environment for entrepreneurs, investors, and entrepreneurs from all over the world.
At the meeting, the Ministry of Economy announced the main highlights of the UAE's e-commerce law, including:
1.The law conforms to the development trend of international digital commerce and adopts a flexible legislative approach to simplify business processes and facilitate domestic consumer services.
2.Emphasizing the critical role of entities and authorities responsible for licensing and regulating e-commerce, as well as related logistics services and digital payment gateways.
3.The law protects the interests of consumers, not only protects the intellectual property rights of goods or services purchased through modern technological means, but also provides adequate technical protection measures to enable consumers to purchase goods and services safely, and regulates the refund and exchange of goods and services.
4.It is legally authorized to be carried out by modern technical means**, making it similar to traditional methods and routine procedures.
5.It provides for optional jurisdiction for dispute resolution, including arbitration, and introduces the principle of optional insurance coverage for obligations arising through modern technological means.
6.Integrates the roles of federal and local entities involved across the e-commerce value chain, achieved through flexible legislation for these entities, starting with the requirements of the Bank for digital payment gateways, followed by the requirements of the Federal Tax Service and the TDRA, as well as the security requirements of the Federal and Local Entities regarding cybersecurity.
7.Regulates the joint role of relevant federal and local entities in the requirements and necessary approvals for local entities involved in the digital transformation of business activities, as well as e-commerce licensing requirements for economic development sectors.
8.An optional authority has been created for the integration of supervision, regulation and judicial control operations.
9.Organize relationships between merchants (B2B) and digital merchants and consumers (B2C).
10.It regulates the relationship between the parties to a digital contract and protects the consumer and the interested parties.