The Middle East has emerged as a swiftly expanding SaaS market, accompanied by the implementation of data privacy regulations in various countries in recent years. These regulations are specifically crafted to safeguard the privacy of individuals in the Middle East, and their impact on SaaS companies operating in the region is substantial. Notably, the UAE's Data Protection Law (DPL) was enacted in November 2021, mirroring the principles of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The DPL extends its jurisdiction to all entities processing personal data of individuals in the UAE, regardless of their geographical location. This entails acquiring explicit consent for data processing, implementing robust security measures, designating a data protection officer (DPO), conducting comprehensive data privacy impact assessments (DPIAs), and promptly addressing data subject requests.
