Gdpr Compliance Uae
For UAE businesses serving EU customers, GDPR compliance is mandatory. ISO 27701 is the privacy extension to ISO 27001 that maps directly to GDPR requirements. Combined with Standard Contractual Clauses, it provides the strongest defensible position for cross-border data transfers from EU to UAE.
How ISO 27701 helps with GDPR
- Maps directly to GDPR articles with certifiable controls
- Recognized by European Data Protection Board under GDPR Article 42
- Covers both data controller and data processor requirements
- Provides framework for UAE Data Protection Law compliance (Federal Decree-Law No. 45)
- Requires ISO 27001 as prerequisite — builds on existing ISMS
- Additional implementation cost: USD 3,000-8,000 on top of ISO 27001
Pro tip
If you're a Finnish or Nordic business operating from UAE, ISO 27701 eliminates the 'trust gap' for EU clients concerned about data transfers.
Watch out
ISO 27701 cannot be obtained standalone — you need ISO 27001 first. Plan them together to save time.