Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre in Abu Dhabi, has been granted membership of the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN).

Established in 2010, GPEN is an international network of data protection authorities, comprised of over 60 members from around 50 different countries and regions with the purpose of facilitating cross border enforcement of privacy protection laws and strengthening personal privacy and data protection in a global context.

The GPEN membership will be headed by ADGM’s data protection regulator - Registration Authority (RA).

ADGM is the first member from the Gulf region, providing the opportunity to build international relationships in the data protection field.

The GPEN membership will strengthen ADGM’s ability to raise awareness of the importance of privacy and data protection and will also provide a platform to share best practice and facilitate co-operation on privacy law enforcement.

As a member of GPEN, the Abu Dhabi group's responsibilities will include discussing the practical aspects of privacy law enforcement cooperation, sharing best practices in addressing cross-border challenges, working to develop shared enforcement priorities and supporting joint enforcement initiatives and awareness campaigns.

GPEN membership also raises ADGM’s profile as a jurisdiction in the region that is committed to privacy and data protection. It is also particularly timely, given current international developments in data protection, such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), it added.

On the feat, ADGM Chairman Ahmed Ali Sayegh said: "Data protection and privacy are fundamental to a robust and transparent international financial centre. The RA has enforced a data protection regime that is in line with international best practices and is proactive in implementing advancements in the field."

"Initiatives such as the membership seek to instill greater confidence in our stakeholders and position ADGM as a leader in the international community of data protection and privacy," he added.-TradeArabia News Service