Abu Dhabi: Implements New Biodiversity Protection Framework

Abu Dhabi has introduced comprehensive biodiversity legislation through Abu Dhabi Decision No. 6/2025, establishing new protocols for environmental conservation across the emirate.

The decree outlines specific measures for protecting both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has been designated to oversee the implementation of these new regulations, working in coordination with relevant government entities.

Under the new framework, systematic procedures will be introduced to monitor and analyse the impact of conservation efforts. The policy specifically addresses habitat protection, species preservation, and the restoration of natural ecosystems across Abu Dhabi’s varied landscape, which includes coral reefs, mangrove forests, sand dunes, and mountainous regions.

The legislation establishes regulatory mechanisms for environmental protection and introduces nature-based solutions for habitat preservation. It has been developed in collaboration with government agencies and private sector institutions to ensure alignment with existing national policies.

The new measures take into account current environmental challenges, including habitat degradation and climate change impacts. The policy sets out specific requirements for protecting marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems, with clear implementation timeframes and monitoring protocols.

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Abu Dhabi: Schools Required to Implement New Ethics Code

Gulf News, 5 October 2025: Abu Dhabi’s education regulator has introduced mandatory ethical standards for all schools under its supervision, establishing specific behaviours that teaching staff must follow.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has outlined six core standards that schools must incorporate into their conduct codes, covering national identity, professional relationships, legal compliance, digital practices, community protection, and school safety.

Key requirements for educators include: fair treatment of all students and colleagues, prevention of discrimination in classrooms, mentoring of new teaching staff, obtaining proper permits for private tutoring, implementation of cybersecurity measures, reporting of suspected abuse cases and addressing academic dishonesty.

The standards mandate that teachers must respect diverse religious and cultural backgrounds while upholding Emirati values. Digital responsibility features prominently, with requirements for educators to teach students about online information verification and ethical AI usage.

Schools must also ensure staff participate in continuous professional development and engage in environmental and social initiatives.

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Abu Dhabi: Increases Penalties Tenfold for Farm-Based Crypto Mining

Khaleej Times, 30 September 2025: Abu Dhabi authorities have implemented strict measures against cryptocurrency mining on agricultural land, introducing fines of AED100,000 for violations, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s AED10,000 penalty.

The Agriculture and Food Safety Authority announced that repeat offenders will face double the fine amount, alongside additional sanctions, including service suspension and equipment confiscation. The new regulations target both farm owners and tenants found operating crypto mining operations on agricultural premises.

Officials have confirmed that farms found in breach of regulations will face immediate disconnection of electricity supplies and withdrawal of agricultural support programmes. The authority will also seize mining equipment and refer cases to relevant legal bodies for further action.

The crackdown follows the detection of multiple violations across farming establishments in the emirate. The strengthened penalties represent a 900 per cent increase from the 2024 regulations, reflecting authorities’ determination to prevent the misuse of agricultural land.

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Abu Dhabi: AI-Powered Financial Crime Detection System Launches

Khaleej Times, 17 September 2025: A new artificial intelligence system designed to combat financial crime was unveiled, marking a significant advance in automated financial investigation capabilities.

The AI Investigator platform performs automated due diligence by analysing ownership structures, media coverage and regulatory documentation. The system can process millions of data points within minutes, dramatically reducing investigation times that traditionally took weeks.

The cloud-based technology employs behavioural analysis and pattern matching to identify potential criminal activity across multiple sectors including finance, real estate, professional services and government operations.

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ADGM: Updates Data Protection Rules for Insurance and Education

The National, 16 September 2025: Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre has strengthened its data protection regulations with new amendments specifically targeting the insurance and education sectors.

The revised Data Protection Guidelines 2021 introduce ‘Substantial Public Interest Rules’, which establish clearer protocols for handling sensitive personal information.

Under the new regulations, insurers must follow specific procedures when processing special categories of personal data. The amendments include precise definitions of “insurance contract” and “insurance purpose” to ensure uniform implementation across the industry.

A key provision allows for processing sensitive personal data without consent in cases involving children or individuals at risk of harm. The rules extend protection to vulnerable adults aged 18 and above, once they meet specified criteria.

The guidelines define at-risk individuals as those requiring care and support, facing neglect or physical, mental or emotional harm, or unable to protect themselves from such risks.

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