The legal framework governing personal data protection: challenges and mechanisms for enhancing security in the digital age—an analytical study

In the context of accelerated digital transformation, the protection of personal data has emerged as a critical legal and regulatory challenge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This article offers a critical assessment of the UAE legal framework governing personal data protection, with a primary focus on Federal Decree-Law No. (45) of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data. The analysis evaluates the effectiveness of legislative and regulatory mechanisms in ensuring data security, protecting individual rights, and addressing both civil and criminal liability arising from the misuse of personal data. Adopting a doctrinal and comparative legal methodology, the article examines the role of regulatory authorities in overseeing compliance and enforcement, while also assessing civil liability and compensation mechanisms available to individuals in cases of data breaches. The UAE framework is further benchmarked against selected international models, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to identify regulatory gaps and practical challenges. The article contributes to the existing literature by providing a critical evaluation of the UAE personal data protection regime and by proposing legal and institutional measures aimed at strengthening governance, accountability, and effective enforcement, while maintaining a balance between privacy protection and digital innovation.