Dubai Enhances Whistleblower Protection Measures

Dubai protects whistleblowers exposing state irregularities

Dubai is strengthening the protection of whistleblowers with a new decree, particularly focusing on government employees who expose financial or administrative irregularities at state companies. The aim of the decision is to create a safe and confidential environment for those who stand for transparency and help uncover corruption or other organizational faults.

Full protection for whistleblowers

Under the decree, employees who cooperate with the Dubai Financial Supervisory Authority or appear as witnesses during investigations are granted special protection. Their job status is officially ensured by the authority, so the disclosure does not lead to retaliation or job-related disadvantages.

All reports remain strictly confidential, and employees of the authority are strictly prohibited from leaking any information. The experts assigned to investigate the cases are obliged to maintain anonymity and confidentiality, thus avoiding the exposure or harassment of whistleblowers.

Regulated procedures and legal frameworks

The new provisions also provide clear guidance on how one can request protection when intending to report misconduct. The legal and procedural framework aims to encourage the reporting of irregularities while preventing the misuse of information. The authority clearly states that those who report in good faith and with accurate data do not commit any legal violation by disclosing confidential data, even if their employment contract states otherwise.

What types of misconduct can be reported?

The regulation allows reporting of various types of misconduct:

Financial or legal violations

Ethical issues: such as unfair treatment, damage to reputation, or breaches of workplace norms

Fraud: deliberate deception, false accounting, or misleading reports

Discrimination and bias: bias in professional decisions, or in interpersonal relationships

In all such reports, the whistleblower’s identity remains confidential, and only legally authorized authorities can access this information.

Protection against retaliation

The authority guarantees that whistleblowers will not face any form of retaliation, harassment, or disadvantageous discrimination, either at their current job or in their future careers. This extends to both internal and external pressures.

If a government body employee violates the rules of this protective regulation, the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) will apply sanctions according to its provisions.

Anonymous public feedback

Besides reporting misconduct, residents and clients can also evaluate government services through the 'mystery shopper' application. The system, introduced in 2020, allows anonymous evaluation of customer experience, including officials’ attitudes, waiting times, payment difficulties, and even parking management.

This system has repeatedly proven its effectiveness, and the leadership of Dubai has previously publicly responded to the results, such as by warning officials or publicly sharing recognitions.

Outlook on other regions of the UAE

Similar systems are operational in other parts of the UAE: for instance, Abu Dhabi launched the 'Wajib' application in 2022, which allows for anonymous reporting of financial and administrative corruption. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has been applying official regulations for whistleblowing in the financial sector since 2022.

(Source of the article: Statement from Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.)