UAE Public Prosecutors issue warning about jail term and fines for data law breaches

The UAE Public Prosecution has issued a stern warning regarding the consequences of breaching data laws, revealing that offenders could face significant fines and even imprisonment. Breaches of data laws in the UAE can result in fines of up to AED3 million ($817,000).

The announcement, shared on social media by the UAE Public Prosecution, outlined the penalties for “assaulting the data of financial, commercial, or economic institutions using information technology.” It emphasized that tampering with the data of these institutions is considered a serious offense across the entire country.

Under UAE data protection laws, the advisory stipulated that individuals who “obtain, acquire, modify, destroy, disclose, make available, cancel, delete, amend, reproduce, publish, or republish any confidential information or data related to any financial, commercial, or economic institution using information technology or information technology means” could be subject to legal action. The prescribed punishment for such offenses includes temporary imprisonment for a minimum period of five years and fines ranging from AED500,000 ($136,000) to AED3 million ($817,000).

These offenses are categorized under Article 8 of Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumours and Cybercrimes.