DIFC backs international data-sharing standards for AI

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is positioning its data-protection regime as a practical “bridge” for companies scaling AI and digital services across borders, linking its Regulation 10 on personal data processed through autonomous and semi-autonomous systems to the expanding Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) Forum. 

For founders and executives developing AI, fintech, and cloud-native products, the business value is straightforward: cross-border data transfers are often where expansion slows. Certification-based approaches, such as CBPR, are designed to help organizations demonstrate compliance with program requirements for transferring personal data across jurisdictions, thereby reducing friction when operating across multiple markets.

CBPR originated under APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). In 2022, the Global CBPR Forum was established through a declaration to promote interoperability and scale the model beyond the APEC region, thereby facilitating wider adoption by jurisdictions worldwide. That matters for the Middle East because GCC-based companies increasingly sell to customers, banks, and enterprises across Europe, Asia, and North America, while also running multi-region cloud stacks and AI pipelines that routinely move data between locations.

On the DIFC side, Regulation 10 was introduced as part of amended data protection regulations and is framed by DIFC as a platform for interoperability in the fast-growing landscape of AI laws and policies.

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, commented: “Becoming the first jurisdiction in the region to receive Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules membership recognises DIFC’s initiatives to advance data and privacy protection. The digital age, fuelled by global connectivity and technology, means information is ubiquitous and instantly shareable.”

In practice, this provides regional organizations with a more straightforward compliance pathway when deploying AI and machine learning systems that process personal data, while aligning with the DIFC’s broader pitch as a safe, outcomes-based environment for innovation.

The opportunity now is for MENA decision-makers to treat privacy governance as a growth lever rather than a box-ticking exercise: robust controls can shorten enterprise sales cycles, improve partner confidence, and support regional ambitions in regulated sectors such as digital banking, health tech, and smart city services. With Global CBPR expanding and DIFC refining AI-era data rules, the region’s next competitive edge could be building products that are “export-ready” from day one, technically scalable, and compliance-scalable.