Electronic Transactions and Trust Services Law · Federal Decree-Law 46 of 2021
Article 8
Chapter Two: Electronic Transactions > Signatures and Seals on Electronic Documents
English translation
1. If any legislation in force in the State requires the affixation of a signature or seal on a document or record, or stipulates certain consequences in the event of not signing or sealing a document or record, this requirement shall be considered met in the following cases: a. Using a means of identifying a person and indicating the intention of such person with respect to the information contained in the Electronic Document. b. If the means used meets either of the following two conditions:
1) To be qualified for the purpose for which the Electronic Document is created or sent.
2) To meet the requirements set forth in Paragraph (A) of Clause (1) of this Article, either alone or with any other evidence.
2. Any person may use any form of electronic authentication unless the law provides otherwise.
Official translation, as published by the portal.
Official Arabic text
التوقيع والختم على المستند الإلكتروني
.1 إذا اشترط أي تشريع نافذ في الدولة وجود توقيع أو ختم على مستند أو سجل أو نص على ترتيب نتائج معينة على عدم توقيع مستند أو سجل أو ختمه، فيعد هذا الشرط متوفراً في الحالات الآتية. أ. استخدام وسيلة تعريف لهوية الشخص والإشارة إلى قصد ذلك الشخص بالنسبة للمعلومات التي يتضمنها المستند الإلكتروني. ب. إذا حققت الوسيلة المستخدمة أحد الشرطين الآتيين: 1( أن تكون معتمدة للغرض الذي تم إنشاء أو إرسال المستند الإلكتروني له. 2( أن تستوفي المهام الواردة في الفقرة )أ( من البند (1) من هذه المادة سواء بذاتها أو مع أيّ إثبات آخر.
.2 يجوزلأي شخص أن يستخدم أي شكل من أشكال التوثيق الإلكتروني ما لم ينص القانون على خلاف ذلك.
What it means when you sign
This article deals with the legal requirement of a signature or seal. Where legislation in force in the State requires a signature or seal on a document or record, or sets consequences if there is none, the requirement is met in two situations. The first is using a means that identifies the person and shows that person's intention about the information in the electronic document. The second is that the means used meets one of two conditions: it is qualified for the purpose for which the electronic document was created or sent, or it meets the first requirement either alone or together with other evidence.
The article also says any person may use any form of electronic authentication unless the law provides otherwise.
When you are about to sign a contract electronically, this article means an electronic signature can satisfy a signature requirement if it identifies the signer and shows the signer's intention. A clause that accepts electronic signatures may rely on this article. A clause or other law that requires a specific form may take priority, since the article gives way where the law provides otherwise.
In Fahm reports this article usually sits under: Hidden wording
Related articles
- Article 7This article deals with the legal requirement that something be in writing.
- Article 9This article deals with the legal requirement that a document be submitted or kept in its original form.
- Article 10Cited in Fahm reportsThis article confirms that contracts can be made electronically.
- Article 11This article deals with contracts made by automated systems.
- Article 17This article lists the kinds of trust services and qualified trust services.
- Article 18Cited in Fahm reportsThis article sets the legal effect of electronic documents, signatures, seals and trust services.