Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) vs GDPR
What is the difference between Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and GDPR?
Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) is a government framework applying in the United Arab Emirates, with 12 controls across 7 domains. GDPR is a privacy framework applying in the European Union, with 40 controls across 4 domains. They govern different subjects, so the overlap is limited to the governance requirements they share. The mapping below shows where that is.
Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL)12 controls
GDPR40 controls
Questions people ask about Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and GDPR
What is the difference between Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and GDPR?
Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) has 12 controls while GDPR has 40 controls. Both frameworks address compliance requirements but differ in scope, focus, and applicability. Use our platform to explore the exact control-to-control mappings.
Do I need both Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and GDPR?
Whether you need both depends on your industry, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. Many organizations implement multiple frameworks simultaneously. Our compliance platform helps you map controls between Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and GDPR so you can identify shared requirements and avoid duplicate effort.
How do Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and GDPR controls map to each other?
Our platform maps controls between Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and GDPR at a granular level. Each mapping shows whether controls are fully aligned, partially aligned, or represent gaps. This helps you prioritize implementation when pursuing both frameworks.
Which framework should I implement first, Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) or GDPR?
The best starting point depends on your specific regulatory requirements, industry, and customer demands. Consider which framework is most urgently required by your stakeholders or regulators. Use our free compliance platform to run a gap analysis and determine the optimal implementation sequence.
Each framework on its own
Comparisons people read next
Each of these compares one of the two standards above against another it shares controls with.
See all control mappings with interactive gap analysis
Explore the complete mapping between Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and GDPR on our compliance platform.
Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.