PhD R. (Radwan) Eskhita

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

From Brussels to the Gulf: The Impact of the GDPR in UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar

This dissertation examines how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has influenced national data protection laws in Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It explores the extent to which GDPR principles have been incorporated into these countries' legal frameworks, considering regional legal systems and cultural contexts.

The study is divided into two parts: a doctrinal section analyzing legal frameworks and an empirical section exploring practical implementations and theories such as the Brussels Effect and Regulatory Capture.

Findings reveal that while GCC countries have not fully adopted the GDPR, they follow a cooperative model balancing international standards with local priorities. External factors, including economic incentives and access to EU markets, alongside internal motivations such as building trust in digital economies, drive these regulatory choices.

The dissertation introduces the GDPR as a hermeneutical tool for GCC legislators and highlights the challenges of predicting judicial outcomes under these new legal frameworks.

Ultimately, the research emphasizes that GDPR-inspired principles have improved data protection laws in the GCC, facilitated cross-border data transfers, and contributed to a more globalized approach to data protection. However, it underscores the need for ongoing research and legal development in the region to address emerging data protection challenges effectively.