INFORMATICS-UAE: E-crimes law will soon be enacted

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

DUBAI, Feb 6 2003 (IPS) - The draft of the second part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Dubai’s e-laws – the Electronic Crimes Law – has been sent to the Ruler’s Court prior to being passed into law, according to a top official at Dubai Internet City (DIC).

It deals with penalties to be imposed for crimes committed via the Internet. The first part drawn up in February last year dealt with the scope of e-transactions.

"Having prepared the latest proposals, the draft has now been sent to the Ruler’s Court. It will be the Ruler’s Court which will decide the timing of this law’s passage," said Dr Omar bin Sulaiman, chief executive of DIC Aas quoted by ‘Gulf News’.

Dubai was one of the first in the Middle East to adopt regulations governing financial and other transactions on the Internet. The Federal Laws are in an advanced stage, according to senior legal sources. Saudi Arabia and Jordan have also made progress in drawing up laws to govern e-transactions.

"The legal framework plays a key role in promoting growth and development in the Internet economy," said Bin Sulaiman. "The unique nature of Internet commerce has necessitated the creation of new laws which are significantly different from those for traditional industries," added Bin Sulaiman.