Access Alert | Introducing The Dubai Digital Authority (DDA)

Access Alert | Introducing The Dubai Digital Authority (DDA)

On June 22nd, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, enacted a Law establishing the Dubai Digital Authority (DDA), and a Decree appointing H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori as the DDA’s Director General.

The DDA will serve as Dubai’s official government body responsible for all matters related to information technology, data, smart and digital transformation, and information security. Moreover, the Smart Dubai Department, the Smart Dubai Government, the Dubai Data Establishment, the Dubai Electronic Security Center and the Dubai Statistics Centre are expected to consolidate and start operating under the DDA’s umbrella. This is a welcomed development as Dubai moves to create a single window for digital development and regulation.

In this light, the tech industry should expect: (i) further regulatory updates as the DDA commences its efforts to boost Dubai’s digital readiness and regulatory maturity; and (ii) additional efforts to accelerate digital transformation across Dubai as aligned with the UAE’s Vision 20214th Industrial Revolution StrategyDigitalization Strategy and the National Policy for Quality of Digital Life.   

It is worth noting however, that the DDA’s success will be underpinned by how, in the first instance it interacts with the Federal Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), noting their overlapping mandate and leadership. We are also yet to see how and if the establishment of the DDA will boost inter-emirate collaboration, noting recent activity by the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) and Ajman’s Department of Digital.

Access Partnership is closely monitoring all developments regarding the establishment of the Dubai Digital Authority (DDA). For more information regarding this matter please contact Hussein Abul-Enein at [email protected] 

Related Articles

Bridging the Digital Divide: A Blueprint for Modernising US Broadband Infrastructure

Bridging the Digital Divide: A Blueprint for Modernising US Broadband Infrastructure

This opinion piece is part of Access Partnership’s  ‘A Digital Manifesto’  initiative, which recommends a framework to develop US global leadership on...

14 Mar 2025 General
Access Alert: Access Partnership’s Highlights from APEC’s SOM1

Access Alert: Access Partnership’s Highlights from APEC’s SOM1

Over the past couple of weeks, Access Partnership has been in South Korea attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC) first...

13 Mar 2025 General
Navigating Trump’s Trade Policy 2.0: from Tariffs to Non-Tariff Barriers

Navigating Trump’s Trade Policy 2.0: from Tariffs to Non-Tariff Barriers

Maintaining his firm commitment to tariffs as a central policy tool to address ‘unfair and unbalanced trade’, President Trump’s second-term...

13 Mar 2025 Opinion
Bridging the Gender Gap: Advancing Women’s Leadership in AI Policymaking

Bridging the Gender Gap: Advancing Women’s Leadership in AI Policymaking

In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), the policies we craft today will shape the future for generations...

7 Mar 2025 General