ADGM celebrates International Data Protection Day

• International Data Protection Day is celebrated globally on 28 January
• ADGM participates to raise awareness of Data Protection and Privacy

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 28 January 2022 – Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the leading international financial centre located in Abu Dhabi, is celebrating International Data Protection Day. The International Data Protection Day, also referred to as ‘Data Privacy Day’, is celebrated annually on the 28^th January and this year marks the 41st anniversary of the Council of Europe’s Convention 108, the only international treaty on data protection. ADGM has been actively participating as the only observer from the GCC to the Council of Europe’s convention 108.

Every year, on International Data Protection Day, national data protection bodies and other sectors carry out activities to raise awareness about the rights to personal data protection and privacy. In 2021, ADGM enacted the Data Protection Regulations 2021. The ADGM Regulations were benchmarked with international standards including Convention 108.

Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Muhairi, CEO Registration Authority said: “The privacy and the protection of personal data is not just a benefit, but it is in fact a fundamental right that every individual must be afforded, within the parameters of the regulations that govern the same. Without privacy there can be no trust, which will inhibit economic progress. We are committed to raising awareness of this issue on a daily basis and the International Data Protection Day allows us to reflect on progress and to celebrate the achievements that have taken place. Marking this day is a visible commitment that ADGM is here to protect  individual interests and will continue to strive to do so. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every individual within the UAE and across the world that has helped get the data protection community to where it is today.”

Sami Mohammed, Commissioner of Data Protection said: “We are glad to be participating in the global celebrations. International Data Protection Day affords an important opportunity to re-emphasise the critical need for data protection and privacy laws, which are enacted in order to provide individuals with rights over their information and facilitate the fair and ethical use of data by entities. In ADGM and other jurisdictions, it is evident that we are rapidly embracing advanced digital tools with wide-ranging implications for social and economic development. As a result of the digital age, the right to privacy is gaining more significance. The Office of Data Protection plays a key role in ADGM and regionally with regards to the processing of personal data and upholding the privacy rights of individuals.”

About the Office of Data Protection

The ADGM Office of Data Protection (ODP) was established as a result of ADGM’s enactment of a new set of Data Protection Regulations in 2021, replacing the Data Protection Regulations of 2015. The ODP is the independent supervisory authority responsible for administering the data protection regulations in ADGM. The ADGM ODP is responsible for promoting data protection within ADGM, maintaining the register of Data Controllers, enforcing the obligations upon Data Controllers and upholding the rights of Data Subjects.