Abu Dhabi Global Market has enacted a new set of regulations to ensure the safety of personal and confidential data.
The Data Protection Regulations 2021, which have replaced existing rules drawn up in 2015 are intended to be "business friendly".
They were implemented after a public consultation exercise received positive feedback, ADGM said in a statement on Sunday.
“ADGM is extremely pleased to introduce such a world-class data protection framework that protects personal data, while also remaining balanced and business-friendly,” Dhaher Al Mheiri, chief executive of the ADGM registration authority, said.
“These new regulations position the ADGM as a regional leader in data protection.”
To draft the new rules, ADGM benchmarked global standards and best practices. It found the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (which came into effect in May 2018) provided the leading international standard and best practice for robust data protection legislation.
Under the new framework, ADGM will establish an independent office of data protection that will be headed by Sami Mohammed. Mr Mohammed, who has over 18 years’ experience in both the public and private sectors in the UAE, has been appointed as ADGM's commissioner of data protection for an initial term of four years.
“Through applying the new regulations, entities can be assured of the highest standards of data protection, in line with international best practice,” Mr Mohammed said.
“On behalf of the team … I look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure personal data is processed in accordance with the regulations,” he added.
Starting from Sunday, ADGM has proposed a transition period of 12 months for current entities and six months for new companies to adhere to new data regulations.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
