Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 07, 2019 --(PR.com)-- The global business community has been slow to respond to new UK and European laws on the protection of personal data, and those rules apply to them no matter where they are based.

The new rules say that all UAE businesses that use personal data in Europe and the United Kingdom, or data about people originating from those countries, must comply with the onerous new regulations, which include the Europe wide General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), that became enforceable on 25th May 2018.

Most businesses will take and process personal data under the new definitions that expand to include any data that can be used to identify a living person. That could be as simple as someone�s name, a telephone number, an IP Address, cookies, or an email address, and the rules apply to any person�s data, including employees, customers, and prospects.

Failure to observe the new laws leaves businesses exposed to newly introduced powers that UK and European data protection regulators have to penalise and fine UAE businesses who are not taking the correct level of care over the data they hold or allowing their customers certain rights over their data. By not complying with the new laws, UAE businesses risk receiving fines of up to AED 80 million and other penalties, including an order to stop handling personal data of Europeans and Brits altogether.

Businesses that do not comply are also likely to see UK and European businesses that they work with ending agreements, because the regulation prevents UK and European firms from working with other businesses that cannot demonstrate compliance.

One of the more significant changes is the newly introduced law that makes it illegal for any organisation based outside Europe and the UK to use personal data without appointing a local representative based within those territories.

In a bid to raise awareness and assist businesses with compliance, UK headquartered global data protection firm, TDW International Compliance Office, are holding an awareness seminar on 28th August 2019 at the Holiday Inn Express, Safa Park, Dubai. In the seminar, which is free to attend, Global Data Protection Expert and the Head of the International Compliance Office, Kieran McGeehan, will summarise the key areas of regulation that UAE businesses should consider.

TDWico have developed and released a local representation service to help organisations based anywhere in the World comply with Article 27 of the GDPR, which is the law stating that firms must have a local representative. Their market leading new service has been built to satisfy the requirements of both larger businesses with a good understanding of the laws who just need a local representative to avoid breaking the law, as well as less experienced organisations that really need support to make sense of the laws too.

TDWico even have a service where they will take on the role of Data Protection officer, meaning that they will lead compliance projects, provide training on a global basis, and take on the responsibility of compliance.

Kieran McGeehan, Head of the International Compliance Office explains, �These new laws are changing the way that business is done on a Global basis, but we�re seeing that some businesses don�t fully appreciate how the new regulations could affect them or what they need to do. Those businesses are likely to be left behind as the world moves on around them; and that concerns me. I keep hearing that business leaders don�t have the time or budget to invest in understanding the onerous new rules or preparing to comply with them but I�m afraid that excuse isn�t going to be acceptable when it comes time to defend themselves in front of the regulator, and that time is coming. That�s why we have developed our innovative new UK and European representative services with fair pricing in mind for those organisations that want to protect their subjects� data while complying with the law and avoiding potentially crippling cease orders and fines.�

Representatives of UAE Businesses can register for TDWico�s free seminar online.