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Find out moreSana Saleem - Associate - Technology, Media & Telecommunications
September 2015
We have seen an increase in the number of enquiries from clients wanting use electronic signatures in their business processes in the UAE.
Some of the reasons for the limited adoption may be concerns about the following aspects:
It is important to understand the legal framework in relation to the enforceability of electronic signatures before adopting electronic signatures for your business.
E-signatures in the UAE
In the UAE, the use and admissibility of electronic signatures is governed by Federal Law No.1 of 2006 regarding Electronic Transactions and E-Commerce (“Federal E-commerce Law”).
Basic electronic signatures are defined broadly to include all types of electronic signatures. These are generally defined as data in electronic form which are attached to or logically associated with other electronic data and which serve as a method of authentication.
An electronic signature that meets the requirements of the Federal E-commerce Law has legal force and effect under the Federal E-commerce Law. The Federal E-commerce Law further provides that nothing in the laws of evidence (which includes Federal Law No. 10 of 1992 (“Law of Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions”)) shall prevent the admission of an electronic message or e-signature in evidence.
Reliance on electronic signatures must be reasonable. Reasonableness is generally based on the following factors:
There are, however, specific categories of transactions and documents for which electronic signatures may not be used, including:
Secure e-signatures
The Federal E-commerce Law also provides for a ‘secure’ electronic signature for which there is a legal presumption of reliability. This may be contrasted with ‘simple’ electronic signatures for which no such presumption exists in law. Secure electronic signatures must be issued by recognised service providers in order to qualify as secure electronic signatures under the law.
Conclusion
It is important to bear in mind that electronic signatures are only as secure as the business processes and technology used to create them. High value or more important transactions need better quality electronic signatures – signatures used for these transactions need to be more securely linked to the signatory in order to provide the level of assurance needed and to ensure trust in the underlying system.
Al Tamimi & Company’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications team regularly advises on e-signatures. For further information please contact Nick O’Connell (n.oconnell@tamimi.com) or Sana Saleem (s.saleem@tamimi.com)
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