The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has achieved a significant milestone by being recognized as an Associate Member of the Global Forum Assembly (GFA).
This recognition follows the endorsement of the Membership Committee's recommendation, confirming that DIFC, alongside Mauritius and Bermuda, meets the conditions for Associate membership.
DIFC’s new status is a result of its active participation in the development of the Forum since its inception in April 2022. Recently, DIFC representatives attended workshops hosted by the Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) in Tokyo, Japan, further demonstrating their commitment to advancing global data protection standards.
The Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) Forum, under which DIFC was recognized, is a flexible yet robust privacy certification scheme aimed at facilitating secure international data flows. DIFC’s integration of CBPRs into its compliance regime under the Data Protection Law will enable greater collaboration with global regulatory authorities, reinforcing its position as a leader in data protection within the Middle East.
Jacques Visser, Chief Legal Officer of DIFC Authority and DIFC Data Protection Commissioner, expressed gratitude for the recognition, highlighting DIFC’s unique position as the first Middle Eastern jurisdiction to achieve this status. He emphasized the importance of ethical data management in serving DIFC’s diverse international clientele.
The GFA Membership Committee includes key representatives from APEC member economies such as Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore, with leadership roles held by officials from the United States and Japan.
This achievement reflects DIFC’s ongoing commitment to upholding the highest standards of privacy and data protection, solidifying its role as a trusted global financial hub.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
