New Protection for Whistleblowers in Dubai

Analysis

A new law which is designed to enhance investors' trust in Dubai may also have a welcome effect in protecting employees from certain forms of whistleblowing. This article considers the existing law which must be taken into account when someone "blows the whistle", as well as the implications of the new Financial Crime Law. Employers will want to take this into account when drafting whistleblowing policies.

Whistleblowing, although not defined in UAE law, is generally considered to be the disclosure, by either a current or ex-employee, of information about the employer's conduct, either within the company itself (for example, to a hotline), or to a third party, such as the regulators and or authorities.

Unlike in many other jurisdictions, there has until recently, been no statutory protection for whistleblowers in the UAE or DIFC law.

This appears to have changed (in part) in Dubai with the passing of the Dubai Law No. 4/2016 on Financial Crimes (the Financial Crime Law), which for the first time includes protections for those that report crimes to the newly established Dubai Centre for Economic Security.

Current Protection under UAE law?