Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Aya El Deeb, Staff Reporter

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued decree No (36) of 2021, regarding the use of technologies of digital transactions in matters related to personal status.

The Article 1 of the decree states that the ban contained in paragraphs of Article 2 of item 2 of the Federal Law No (10 of 2006 regarding electronic transactions and commerce shall be cancelled.

As paragraph “A” stipulates the prohibition of using means of information technology in transactions and matters related to personal status, such as marriages, divorces, and wills.

Paragraph “E” stipulates the prohibition of using means of information technology in any document that the law requires ratification by the notary public. The Article 2 of the decree stipulates that means of information technology can be used in transactions and matters related to personal status, such as marriage, divorce and wills, and all documents that the law requires ratification before the notary public, in accordance with the controls and procedures contained in the Federal Law No (1) of 2006, and the Federal Law No (4) of 2013 and its amendments, referred to, as well as the relevant laws and decisions in force in the country.

According to article 3 of the decree, the Minister of Justice, the head of the competent local judicial authority, or his authorised representative, may issue regulatory decisions using information technology means in transactions and matters related to personal status and the work of a notary public in accordance with the provisions of the laws in force and this decree.

The decree also states that records of transactions and matters related to personal status and the notary public shall be confidentially created and saved electronically or on paper.

They may not be circulated, accessed, copied or deleted from the electronic information system except with the permission of the court, or the authorised entity, in accordance with the provisions of this resolution.

Recently, WAM reported that the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) issued the “Digital Transformation in the UAE Report 2020,” which highlights the UAE’s leading global position in digital transformation.

The UAE has topped several global and Arab indices in different fields including smart government, telecommunication, education, health, and digital solutions in general.

The report states the story of digital transformation in the UAE, which started in the early 1980s with the establishment of the Public Information Authority. That authority was responsible for the automation of government processes and the introduction of computer in federal government work.

The report highlighted some achievements in the digital world till 2021, the year of the UAE golden jubilee and preparation for the next fifty years.

The report states, in numbers and facts, the achievements of different sectors in terms of digital transformation in the UAE. In the health sector, the UAE has been ranked 1st in the number of accredited medical facilities index.

Accredited medical facilities which met required standards (including IT management and employment in healthcare services) reached 88.33 per cent. It has been ranked 12th in health infrastructure.

In the economic sector, the UAE has been ranked 1st in several indices, including public-private partnership and its impact on technology development, use of virtual professional networks, and government purchase of advanced technology products. The UAE was ranked 1st at the level of the Arab region in the global innovation index, readiness for future index, IMD’s digital competitiveness index, and market value of information and media technology index.

Regarding capacity building, the UAE has been ranked 4th globally in the Legal framework’s adaptability to digital business models, 2nd in ICT usage, big data usage and analysis, and government future orientation.

The report shed light on many achievements of federal and local government entities in the field of digital transformation. Achieved initiatives covers orientation to paperless government, digital service platforms, and digital connection among government entities through the Federal Network (FedNet), UAE Pass and Government Service Bus (GSB).