Data Protection Law In Qatar

At the end of 2016, the legislative framework for data protection in Qatar was overhauled by Law No. 13 of 2016 Concerning Personal Data Protection (the DPL). Over a year on, we take a look at the DPL and how it is likely to transform the regulatory landscape for privacy in Qatar.

The DPL incorporates concepts familiar from other international privacy frameworks and enshrines an individual's right to have their personal data protected. It mandates that any party who processes such data adhere to the principles of transparency, fairness and respect for human dignity. It will require prompt action to ensure compliance, both for governance reasons and given that the law introduces material fines for breach.