UAE cybercrime law and cybercrimes — An analysis

Abstract

While the internet has had a profound effect on all aspects of modern living, its use does make businesses and individuals vulnerable to being targeted by cybercriminals. Cybercrime rates have been found to increase year-on-year, and the consequences include financial and reputational damage, loss of privacy and breaches of intellectual property. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a major target for cybercriminals due to its high levels of economic activity and tourism, significant uptake of technology, and the rise of the oil and gas industry. The UAE Government has introduced changes to its single cybercrime law, but there are concerns that it is not suitably comprehensive to provide adequate protections of UAE citizens and residents. This article reviews the protections provided by the law through interview results, and comparisons to other, similar laws internationally. It then offers recommendations on how the law can be improved, to make people feel safer in their usage of the internet and internet-connected technologies.