Law No. (1) of 2019 Concerning The Establishment of Abu Dhabi Investment Office

Article 1 — In the implementation of the provisions of this Law, the following words and ¶

phrases shall have the meanings corresponding thereto, unless the context
requires otherwise:
Emirate : The Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Government : The Government of Abu Dhabi.
Executive Council : The Executive Council of the Emirate.
Department : The Economic Development Department.
Office : Abu Dhabi Investment Office.
Director-General : The Director-General of the Office.

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Article 2 — An authority shall be established under the provisions of this Law called ¶

“Abu Dhabi Investment Office”, shall have an independent legal personality
and full legal capacity to act, and shall be affiliated to the Department.
The Executive Council may change the affiliation of the Office to any entity
as determined by it.

Article 3 — The main office of the Office shall be located in Abu Dhabi city and it may, upon ¶

a resolution issued by the Chairman of the Department, establish branches
inside or outside the Emirate following the approval of the Executive Council.

Article 4 — The Office shall assume the following competencies: ¶

1. Prepare investment plans and programmes aimed at encouraging local
and foreign investment and ensuring the sustainability of the investment
climate.
2. Develop the local investment system and promote the Emirate as an
attractive destination for foreign investments.
3. Prepare the necessary studies for the implementation of Public-Private
Partnership projects and float tenders concerning these projects in
coordination with the concerned entities.
4. Suggest innovative investment methods to support Public-Private
Partnership projects and submit them to the Department.
5. Follow up and supervise the implementation of Public-Private Partnership
projects in coordination with the concerned entities.
6. Study and determine the investment fields by preparing a comprehensive
guide for the guidance of the investor and review and update the same
on an annual basis or whenever the need arises.
7. Monitor and evaluate the indicators related to local and foreign
investment in the Emirate and submit appropriate recommendations to
the Department in coordination with the concerned entities.
8. Invest its funds through the establishment of companies for the purposes
of partnership projects.

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9. Represent the Emirate in all local and international events related to
investment in coordination with the concerned entities.
10. Suggest the appropriate benefits, incentives and exemptions of
investment activities in order to attract investment and submit
recommendations thereon to the Department in perparation for approval
by the Executive Council.
• The Executive Council may amend the competencies of the Office stated
in this Law or any other legislation, through deletion, addition or transfer.
• The Office may delegate some of its competencies to any other government
entity or outsource some of them to the private sector following the
approval of the Executive Council.

Article 5 — • The Office may have a Chairman appointed by a resolution of the Chairman ¶

of the Executive Council the Chairman shall supervise the competencies
and tasks of the Office and its Director-General.
• The Executive Council may delegate any other competencies or tasks to
the Chairman of the Office.

Article 6 — The Office shall have a Director-General appointed by a resolution of the ¶

Chairman of the Executive Council who shall steer and supervise the Office
functions, and may in particular:
1. Suggest the strategic and executive plans of the Office and submit them
for approval according to the legislations in force.
2. Follow up the implementation of the strategic and executive plans of the
Office and the programmes and projects supervised or implemented by it.
3. Manage, develop and implement all strategic and executive functions
entrusted to the Office, either directly or through the work teams appointed
or assigned with tasks, without contradicting the legislations in force.
4. Suggest initiatives, programmes, projects, studies and recommendations
related to the Office’s functions and activities and present them for
approval according to the procedures in place at the Department.
5. Suggest the annual draft budget of the Office and submit it for approval

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according to the legislations in force.
6. Suggest the organisational structure of the Office and submit it for
approval according to the legislations in force.
7. Appoint experts, consultants and technicians on a temporary or
permanent basis and determine their fees. He may also seek the
assistance of experts and consultation establishments and offices as
he deems proper.
8. Open bank accounts in the name of the Office according to the
legislations in force.
9. Form committees and internal work teams from among the employees
of the Office and outside the Office, and determine their tasks and work
procedures.
10. Suggest legislations, regulatory and executive regulations, systems,
policies, resolutions and circulars, including the violations and
administrative fines related to the competencies of the Office and
submit them for approval according to the legislations in force.
11. Suggest fees, tariffs and prices related to the competencies of the Office
and submit them for approval according to the legislations in force.
12. Represent the Office before the Courts and third parties.
13. Any other competencies or tasks assigned by the Executive Council.
• The Director-General may delegate some of his competencies to any
senior employee of the Office, provided that the delegation is in writing.
• The Executive Council may delegate any of the Director-General’s
competencies to any committees or work teams appointed from inside or
outside the Office.

Article 7 — • The Office may have a Board of Trustees of not less than three and ¶

not exceeding seven members, including the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees, whose appointment and remuneration are determined by an
Executive Council resolution.
• The Board of Trustees shall provide advice and consultancy to each of the
Department and the Office concerning all or some of the competencies of
the Office and shall make recommendations and suggestions concerning

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the plans, programmes, projects and activities supervised, managed or
implemented by the office.
• The Board of Trustees shall hold its meetings according to the rules and
regulations approved by the Chairman of the Department.
• The Chairman of the Department may assign the Board of Trustees to
follow up on the works of the Director-General if necessary.

Article 8 — The Office shall submit to the Department every three months, or whenever ¶

the Department requests the same, a report on its functions, achievements,
budget, administrative and financial affairs as well as the progress achieved
in the implementation of the competencies and tasks assigned to it.

Article 9 — The Department may, by a resolution of its Chairman, provide logistical support ¶

and all operational functions related to the supporting services, including
human resources, financial affairs, procurement, electronic systems and
other functions and services related to the corporate affairs of the Office.

Article 10 — The Office’s financial resources shall consist of: ¶

• Annual appropriations allocated thereto by the Government.
• Any other revenues approved by the Executive Council.

Article 11 — The fiscal year of the Office shall begin from the first of January and end ¶

on December 31st each year, with the exception of the first fiscal year
which shall begin from the date of entry into effect of this Law and end on
December 31st of the following year.

Article 12 — The Office shall have one or more accredited external auditors to verify ¶

its accounts and financial statements, who shall be appointed by virtue of

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Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 10 January 2019
Corresponding to: 4 Jumada Al-Awwal 1440 Hijri
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
a resolution issued by the Chairman of the Department according to the
legislations in force, specifying as well the remuneration thereof.

Article 13 — • The Office shall be subject to the financial laws and systems in force in ¶

the Emirate.
• The Office’s employees shall be subject to the human resources laws and
systems in force in the Emirate.
• The national employees shall be subject to the Civil Retirement Pensions
and Benefits Law in force in the Emirate.

Article 15 — This Law shall be effective from the date of its issuance and published in the ¶

Official Gazette.

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