News from the DIFC & ADGM

• Signed last month at the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, the agreement between the Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA) – including DIFC Courts – and Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), fosters closer ties between the two entities, specifically through utilising the extensive expertise of the DRA in mediation. This MoU will pave the way to establish a framework for DHCA to benefit from the specialised expertise derived from the successful Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) model, particularly in the area of labour disputes. In 2017 the SCT handled over 300 cases, with a settlement rate of 88 per cent in an average of four weeks. SCT enables smart, quick and amicable settlement of claims up to half a million dirhams, either virtually from a laptop or smartphone via smart SCT, or directly in a courtroom. The collaboration agreement, signed by Mark Beer, OBE, chief executive, DRA, and Dr. Ramadan Alblooshi, CEO, Dubai Healthcare City Authority – Regulatory, will also extend to developing legal education and training initiatives for the DHCC through the DIFC Academy of Law.

• ADGM has amended its Data Protection Regulations 2015 to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of the regime. The new enhancements include updates on matters such as defined terms, data breach notification timeframes and deadlines for notifications to the Registrar, alongside expanded enforcement provisions. In addition, the enhancements expand the list of jurisdictions designated in the Regulations as providing an adequate level of protection of personal data. Designation facilitates the free flow of personal data from ADGM to those jurisdictions and improves ease of doing business for ADGM firms. The additional jurisdictions include: Andorra, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Faroe Islands.To view or download the amended regulations and other information, please visit adgm.com > doing business >registration authority > office of data protection. The amendments took effect on February 1, 2018.

• Further As part of ADGM’s commitment to privacy and data protection, ADGM has launched the Annual Data Protection Forum. The inaugural event, took place on 28 January 2018, marking the occasion of International Data Protection Day and featured several speakers including key note speaker, Lahoussine Aniss, secretary general of the national commission for the control of the protection of personal data (CNDP), Morocco. The Office of Data Protection is the independent data protection regulator for Abu Dhabi Global Market. The Office of Data Protection is based within the Registration Authority and is responsible for promoting data protection in ADGM, maintaining a register of Data Controllers, enforcing the obligations upon Data Controllers and upholding the rights of individuals.