Electronic Transactions And Trust Services Law

On 20 September 2021, the UAE issued the new Federal Law No. 46 of 2021 on Electronic Transactions and Trust Services ("ETL") which replaces the old Federal Law No. 1 of 2006, the ETL was issued under wide ranging reforms to the UAE Laws.

A number of improvements are brought about by the ETL, mainly electronic signatures would now be considered on par with handwritten signatures. Previously there were no distinctions, however under the ETL there are three types of signatures: the standard Electronic Signature, Approved Electronic Signature and Qualified Electronic Signature. Each of these signatures will have a corresponding level of security attached to it.

The law also calls for trust service providers who will be licensed by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority ("TDRA") and the TDRA will be the competent regulator and implementing authority for the ETL.