The government of the United Arab Emirates has announced new regulations with a view to curtailing copyright infringement, particularly with respect to computer programs.

Under the new regulations, computer programs may only be imported into the United Arab Emirates, provided that the relevant contracts pertaining to such imports are submitted to the authorities. Importers and distributors of computer programs must also register imported materials with the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Persons found in possession of computer programs that do not comply with the new regulations are subject to prosecution and the computer programs are subject to seizure.