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Find out moreThe first Law Update of 2024 is here, and our first focus of the year spotlights Healthcare and Lifesciences, a sector that is undergoing significant growth and development across the MENA region.
Our focus provides an insight into some of the most important regulatory updates across the region, such as the UAE’s groundbreaking law on the use of human genome, Kuwait’s resolution on nuclear and radioactive materials, the new regulations for healthcare services in Qatar, Egypt’s healthcare regulatory framework, and the impact of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law on the healthcare and life sciences sector … and there is so much more!
Beyond the healthcare pages our lawyers share with you multi-sector insights where you will discover articles on Dubai’s DIFC regulatory framework for startups, Bahrain’s commercial agencies law, and we also shed light on Kuwaiti civil code and the advantages of setting up a joint stock company in Saudi Arabia.
Read the full editionSana Saleem - Associate - Digital & Data
Anita Siassios
Upon publication in the Federal Gazette1, the new Advertising Standards will serve to consolidate the various principles governing content in relation to advertisements in the UAE, reinforcing a number of fundamental edicts.
1. Objectives.
With a view to ensuring the advertising industry’s conformity with the laws and regulations of the UAE, the new Advertising Standards are intended to:
– impartial;
– truthful;
– respects the privacy of individuals; and
– protects society from harmful influences.
2. Standards in relation to advertisements.
The Advertising Standards set out principles in relation to all digital and traditional advertisements broadcast or published through any media corporation and outlet in the UAE. Although, the Advertising Standards do not define the meaning of these terms, they may be interpreted broadly to include advertisements issued by shops, for example.
Many of the standards set out in the Advertising Standards reiterate principles already established under various existing legislations and regulations, while others introduce new rules governing advertisements and advertising content in the region. We summarize the main standards below:
Advertising content must be respectful of all divine religions and not offend Islamic beliefs. It must not disrespect the regime in the UAE and/or the symbols and political institutions thereof. Further, no content broadcast or published by a media corporation or outlet may disrespect the local and international policies of the UAE or disrespect the cultural heritage of the UAE.
The Advertising Standards explicitly prohibit advertising alcoholic beverages, tobacco, smoking and all banned products or services including banned narcotics.
The Advertising Standards prohibit the publication of words and pictures that breach public morals. They further prohibit the spread and dissemination of information that may prejudice children, women or any other members of society. The Advertising Standards also prohibit the provocation of violence, hatred and sectarianism via advertising content.
With a view to protecting the privacy of individuals, the Advertising Standards explicitly prohibit the broadcast and publication of misleading news and rumors.
The Advertising Standards mandate compliance with the laws governing consumer protection and commercial activities particularly in relation to anti-competitive practices and illegal monopolies.
Advertising content relating to medicines or pharmaceutical products must comply with the rules set out by Cabinet Resolution No. 7 of 2007 Regarding Health Advertisements Regulation.
3. Requirements of advertising content.
The most notable requirement under these new Advertising Standards is that advertisements are now required to be in standard Arabic or the local Emirati dialect. Prior to the issuance of these Advertising Standards, there was no such requirement.
We summarize additional requirements in respect of advertisements below:
4. Enforcement.
The National Media Council is authorized, under the Advertising Standards, to apply various penalties for non-compliant advertisements. Such penalties may not be in isolation of any other penalties that may perhaps be imposed upon an entity under Federal Law No. 15 of 1980 Regarding Printed Matters and Publications. Enforcement of such penalties can occur against any or all of the “advertiser”, “producer” and “publication means” (the Advertising Standards do not define the meaning of these terms) where each of these can be liable for advertising content that does not comply with standards as set forth in these Advertising Standards.
Al Tamimi & Company’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications team regularly handles issues related to advertising and promotions. For further information please contact Sana Saleem at s.saleem@tamimi.com or Anita Siassios at a.siassios@tamimi.com.
1 – At the time of publication of this article, the Advertising Standards had not been published in the Federal Gazette. We expect this will happen in due course.To learn more about our services and get the latest legal insights from across the Middle East and North Africa region, click on the link below.