The legislation regulating the sphere of e-commerce in the United Arab Emirates, Federal Decree on E-commerce No. 14 of 2023, replaces a similar document from 2006.
The main changes in the law include:
Adaptation to international trends: The law aligns with global trends in digital commerce, offering a flexible approach to regulation to optimize business processes and improve the quality of services for consumers.
Enhancing the role of regulatory bodies: The document emphasizes the key role of licensing and regulating the sphere of e-commerce, logistics services, and digital payment methods.
Consumer protection: The law declares the priority of consumer interests, protecting intellectual property rights, implementing reliable technological protection measures, and regulating the policy of return and exchange of goods and services purchased online.
Legal recognition of digital trade: Trade conducted using modern technologies is now legally authorized, equating digital transactions with traditional ones.
Dispute resolution mechanisms: The law offers optional dispute resolution mechanisms, including arbitration, and introduces principles for optional insurance related to trade obligations.
Integration of federal and local authorities: The document harmonizes the roles of federal and local authorities throughout the e-commerce chain, including such bodies as the Central Bank and the Federal Tax Service.
Unified regulatory authority: The law establishes a single supervisory, regulatory, and judicial control authority in the field of e-commerce.
Protection of digital contracts: The law systematizes digital contracts and ensures the protection of online consumers and interested parties, coordinating with relevant authorities on the regulation of digital payment gateways.
