This guide covers the compliance basics that most business websites in the UAE should address. It is general information, not legal advice, and requirements depend on your sector and licence, so confirm important points with a UAE lawyer or your licensing authority.
Show who you are
Customers and payment providers expect to see clear business identity: your trading name, contact details and, where appropriate, your trade licence number. E-commerce businesses should make this visible, and payment gateways commonly check for it during onboarding.
A privacy policy that matches what you collect
The UAE personal data protection law, Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021, sets out principles for collecting and processing personal data, and the financial free zones DIFC and ADGM have their own data protection regimes. A privacy policy should say what data you collect through forms and analytics, why, who receives it, how long you keep it and how people can exercise their rights. Do not copy a policy that describes practices you do not follow.
Cookie notice and consent
If you use analytics or advertising cookies, tell visitors and let them choose before non-essential cookies load. A short banner that links to a cookie policy is the common approach.
E-commerce terms
Online stores should publish delivery times and costs, return and refund conditions, payment methods, price information including VAT and a way to contact you with complaints. Clear terms reduce disputes and are reviewed by payment gateways.
Sector-specific rules
- Real estate: advertising permits and licence information for brokers
- Healthcare: advertising approvals and careful handling of patient data
- Financial services: regulator licences and required disclosures
- Tourism: licence numbers and transparent pricing
Keep it current
Review legal pages when your business, tools or the law change, and record the date of the last update. A maintenance plan can include this check. For help structuring compliant pages see website development or get in touch.
Who to ask for confirmation
Your licensing authority, such as the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai or the equivalent in another emirate, can confirm what your licence requires you to display. Sector regulators, such as health authorities and financial regulators, can confirm advertising rules, and a UAE lawyer can review your privacy policy and terms. Keep written confirmation of anything material, and ask your developer to build the pages in a way that is easy to update when guidance changes.