Federal Decree by Law No. (14) of 2023 Concerning the Modern Technology-Based Trade

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Federal Decree by Law No. (14) of 2023 Concerning the Modern Technology-Based Trade

Verified legislative metadata

Purpose and legal effect

Regulates trade conducted through websites, applications, platforms and other modern technology, covering digital traders, licensing, digital contracts, consumer rights, data, logistics, payments, returns and enforcement.

Who and what the legislation applies to

• Digital traders supplying goods or services using websites, apps, social platforms or other modern technology.
• Digital marketplaces and platforms where the statutory definition/obligations apply.
• Consumers contracting through technological means.
• Logistics and payment service arrangements used to fulfil technology-based trade.
• Competent federal and local licensing and regulatory authorities.

Important statutory definitions

• Modern Technology-Based Trade: trade in goods/services conducted by technological means within the statutory definition.
• Digital Trader: a person carrying on modern technology-based trade and subject to licensing/registration requirements.
• Digital Contract: a contract concluded through technological means.
• Digital Platform: a technological environment that facilitates commercial transactions.
• Consumer: the person acquiring goods/services for the purposes recognised by applicable consumer legislation.

Structured legislative map

Objectives and application

Creates a dedicated federal framework for modern technology-based commerce.

Licensing and approvals

Requires digital trade to be conducted within applicable commercial licensing and regulatory approvals.

Digital trader obligations

Requires accurate identity, contact, product/service, price and transaction information.

Digital contracts

Recognises electronic offer, acceptance, identity and signature where legal requirements are met.

Consumer information and rights

Coordinates with the Consumer Protection Law on disclosure, fair dealing and remedies.

Data and cybersecurity interaction

Requires lawful handling of consumer data and compliance with applicable data and cyber legislation.

Logistics

Permits direct or outsourced storage, shipping, transportation and delivery subject to legal requirements.

Digital payments

Regulates the use of payment channels within the relevant Central Bank and other rules.

Returns and refunds

Provides transaction remedies and coordinates with consumer-protection requirements.

Supervision and enforcement

Allows competent authorities to supervise and impose administrative measures.

Administrative penalties

Cabinet Resolution No. (200) of 2025 supplies a current violation-and-penalty schedule.

Key statutory points

• The law is technology-neutral and is not limited to traditional websites.
• Digital traders still need the underlying commercial licence/approval required for the activity.
• Online terms cannot override mandatory UAE consumer-protection rules.
• Digital identity and electronic signatures can satisfy contract requirements when the legal conditions are met.
• Prices, charges and logistics fees must be disclosed transparently.
• A digital trader should provide accessible contact and complaint mechanisms.
• Consumer data must be handled consistently with UAE data-protection and cyber laws.
• Payment activity remains subject to Central Bank and sector-specific rules where applicable.
• Platforms can have obligations distinct from the underlying seller depending on their statutory role.
• Cabinet Resolution No. (200) of 2025 introduced active administrative penalties from December 2025.
• The Commercial Transactions Law remains a foundational source for commercial obligations not displaced by this special law.
• The Consumer Protection Law and its Executive Regulation remain important for B2C transactions.
• Cross-border digital commerce can raise licensing, jurisdiction, customs, VAT and data-transfer questions.
• Records of electronic orders, consent, delivery and refunds should be retained.
• Dark patterns, misleading information and undisclosed fees can create exposure under multiple statutes.

Amendments, executive rules and current-law interaction

Cabinet Resolution No. (200) of 2025 introduced the current schedule of administrative violations and penalties for breaches of this decree-law and became effective on 13 December 2025.

Practical compliance / procedure sequence

1. Confirm the correct business licence and any sector-specific approvals.
2. Display legal identity, licence and contact information on the digital channel.
3. Publish clear product/service descriptions, total price, fees, delivery and return terms before checkout.
4. Use compliant electronic contracting and consent mechanisms.
5. Apply data-protection, cybersecurity and payment rules to the customer journey.
6. Keep transaction, order, payment, delivery, cancellation and refund records.
7. Map the current Cabinet 200/2025 penalty schedule to internal compliance controls.

Dates and time limits

• Issued 4 September 2023.
• Effective 16 September 2023.
• Cabinet Resolution No. (200) of 2025 effective 13 December 2025.
• Transaction-specific cancellation, refund, delivery and complaint timelines should be checked under the law, Consumer Protection Executive Regulation and the trader's lawful terms.

Enforcement and legal exposure

Competent authorities may impose administrative penalties under the 2025 schedule and can coordinate with consumer, licensing, cyber, data and payment regulators. A single online transaction can engage several UAE statutes simultaneously.

Practical scenarios

1. An app hides delivery fees until after the consumer confirms the order; disclosure and consumer-protection rules are engaged.
2. A seller uses a social-media account to conduct recurring trade without the required commercial licence; the technology-based nature of the channel does not remove licensing requirements.
3. A marketplace outsources delivery; it should ensure the logistics arrangement and customer disclosures comply with the decree-law.

Official and current sources

• UAE Legislation — Federal Decree by Law No. (14) of 2023
• Cabinet Resolution No. (200) of 2025 — Administrative Violations and Penalties
• Ministry of Economy & Tourism — Economic Legislations

Research method and source priority

Source review for this package was checked on 2026-09-10. The package is designed for website publication, research and client orientation. For live filings, transactions, litigation, administrative appeals or regulator submissions, consult the current official Arabic legislation and all applicable implementing instruments.