Cross-Framework Mapping

Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL)vsPOPIA

See exactly how Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) controls map to POPIA. Pre-computed mappings, identified gaps, and coverage analysis.

19
Controls Mapped
0
Gaps Found
75%
Coverage

Need this as a report you can hand to an assessor? A coverage crosswalk for this pair can be built to order.

According to the TheArtOfService Compliance Knowledge Graph:

Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) maps to POPIA with 75% coverage across 9 directly mapped controls. Analysis of 12 Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) controls identifies 3 compliance gaps, primarily concentrated in UAE PDPL: Scope, Definitions and Applicability (Articles 1-3).

Source: TheArtOfService Knowledge Graph | 12 controls analysed | 686 frameworks | 306K+ cross-framework mappings

Control Mappings

Showing 19 of 19 mapped controls across 5 domains. Sign up to explore all 306K+ mappings across 686 frameworks.

UAE PDPL: Controller and Processor Obligations (Articles 8-10, 18-21)(9 mappings)

UAE-PDPL-Art.10Data Protection Officer (DPO) (UAE PDPL Article 10)4 targets
POPIASA-3Data Subject Rights (Access, Correction, Objection), Automated Decisions
POPIASA-4Special Personal Information, Children, Information Quality, Documentation
POPIASA-5Security Safeguards, Encryption, Access Control, Operator Obligations
POPIASA-7Information Officer, Records of Processing, Notification, Training
UAE-PDPL-Art.18_19_20_21Security measures, controller/processor relationship, DPIA (UAE PDPL Articles 18-21)4 targets
POPIASA-3Data Subject Rights (Access, Correction, Objection), Automated Decisions
POPIASA-4Special Personal Information, Children, Information Quality, Documentation
POPIASA-5Security Safeguards, Encryption, Access Control, Operator Obligations
POPIASA-7Information Officer, Records of Processing, Notification, Training
UAE-PDPL-Art.8Records of processing activities (UAE PDPL Article 8)
POPIASA-3Data Subject Rights (Access, Correction, Objection), Automated Decisions

UAE PDPL: Cross-Border Transfers (Articles 22-24)(1 mappings)

UAE-PDPL-Art.22_23_24Cross-border data transfers (UAE PDPL Articles 22-24)
POPIASA-6Transborder Information Flows, Direct Marketing

UAE PDPL: UAE Data Office, Penalties, Free Zones (Articles 25-29 and Free Zone Coordination)(5 mappings)

UAE-PDPL-Art.25_26_27_28_29UAE Data Office establishment, powers, penalties, complaints (UAE PDPL Articles 25-29)
POPIASA-5Security Safeguards, Encryption, Access Control, Operator Obligations
UAE-PDPL-FreeZonesCoordination with DIFC, ADGM and sectoral data protection regimes3 targets
POPIASA-4Special Personal Information, Children, Information Quality, Documentation
POPIASA-5Security Safeguards, Encryption, Access Control, Operator Obligations
POPIASA-7Information Officer, Records of Processing, Notification, Training
UAE-PDPL-StatusUAE PDPL status, executive regulations, UAE Data Office guidance evolution
POPIASA-8Information Regulator Cooperation, Complaints, Enforcement

UAE PDPL: Lawful Basis, Consent and Principles (Articles 4-6)(3 mappings)

UAE-PDPL-Art.4_5Lawful basis and principles for processing personal data (UAE PDPL Articles 4-5)3 targets
POPIASA-3Data Subject Rights (Access, Correction, Objection), Automated Decisions
POPIASA-4Special Personal Information, Children, Information Quality, Documentation
POPIASA-5Security Safeguards, Encryption, Access Control, Operator Obligations

UAE PDPL: Sensitive Personal Data and Children (Articles 6-7)(1 mappings)

UAE-PDPL-Art.6_7Sensitive personal data and children's data (UAE PDPL Articles 6-7)
POPIASA-5Security Safeguards, Encryption, Access Control, Operator Obligations
Coverage crosswalk

A Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) to POPIA crosswalk, built to order

The table above lists candidate mappings. A crosswalk answers the narrower question you are probably here for: which POPIA controls your existing Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) work already satisfies, which are real gaps, and the reasoning behind every claim so you can check it. One pair, $299, one time.

Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) into POPIA
Not published yet

This direction has not been through crosswalk review and sign off, so no coverage figure is published for it. Reporting an unreviewed number would be worse than reporting none. It can be built to order at the same price as a pair that is already on the shelf.

If the two frameworks turn out to have too little in common for a crosswalk to help you, we say so and refund it rather than send a number worth nothing.

POPIA into Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL)
Not published yet

This direction has not been through crosswalk review and sign off, so no coverage figure is published for it. Reporting an unreviewed number would be worse than reporting none. It can be built to order at the same price as a pair that is already on the shelf.

If the two frameworks turn out to have too little in common for a crosswalk to help you, we say so and refund it rather than send a number worth nothing.

Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) to POPIA (built to order)
$299
per framework pair, one time
  • Every evidenced control, with the reasoning behind it
  • Every gap, with what it requires
  • Its level of review stated plainly, not a bare number

Why this page shows two different percentages. The 75% in the header counts how many Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) controls carry at least one candidate mapping in the graph, before any review. The crosswalk percentage counts something stricter: how many POPIA controls are actually evidenced, after a pass that argued against each mapping and kept only what survived. They answer different questions and they are not meant to agree.

A crosswalk narrows the work. It does not replace an audit, and your assessor may take a different view on individual controls. Mappings between frameworks are judgements, not text printed in either standard, which is why every claim in the report shows its reasoning. Questions go to support@theartofservice.com.

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What are the key differences between Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and POPIA?

Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) has 12 controls across its framework, while POPIA covers 8 controls. Direct mapping analysis identifies 9 overlapping controls (75% coverage). The frameworks diverge most significantly in UAE PDPL: Scope, Definitions and Applicability (Articles 1-3), where 1 Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) controls have no direct POPIA equivalent.

How many controls map between Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and POPIA?

Of 12 total Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) controls, 9 map directly to POPIA controls, representing 75% coverage. The remaining 3 controls represent compliance gaps requiring additional documentation or compensating controls to satisfy both frameworks simultaneously.

What are the compliance gaps when mapping Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) to POPIA?

3 Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) controls have no direct equivalent in POPIA. The highest concentration of gaps is in UAE PDPL: Scope, Definitions and Applicability (Articles 1-3) with 1 unmapped controls. These gaps represent areas where additional controls, policies, or documentation must be created to achieve compliance with both frameworks.

Which control domains have the most gaps between Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and POPIA?

The domain with the highest gap count is UAE PDPL: Scope, Definitions and Applicability (Articles 1-3) (1 gaps). Export the full domain-by-domain gap breakdown via the Professional tier to generate a prioritised remediation roadmap.

This platform provides educational compliance tools, not legal, regulatory, or professional compliance advice. Cross-framework mappings are AI-assisted interpretations and do not reproduce or replace official standards. Framework names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Consult qualified professionals for your specific compliance requirements. See our Terms of Service.