Law No. (11) of 2020 Concerning the Organisation of Grazing in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

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.
Executive Council : The Executive Council of the Emirate.

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Concerned
Entities
: The Department of Municipalities and Transport and
Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority.
Agency : Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.
Livestock : The camels, sheep, cows, and any other types of
animals determined by the Agency.
Grazing : The feeding of Livestock on natural herbs and wild
plants in Grazing Areas.
Grazing Areas : The lands determined by the Agency in coordination
with the Concerned Entities, containing natural
herbs or plants with annual or multi-year vegetation,
or forage shrubs and trees in which Grazing is
permitted.
Grazing Season : The period specified by the Agency in coordination
with the Concerned Entities in which the Licence
holders are allowed to carry out Grazing.
Licence : The document issued by the Agency allowing Grazing
thereby.
Grazing Ranches : The area of land specified and leased by the Department
of Municipalities and Transport for the purpose of keeping
Livestock in Grazing Areas.
Critical Natural
Habitats
: The ecosystem type with high biodiversity value, including
habitats that are of great importance to first-class
endangered species and / or endangered species and /
or habitats that enhance the density of migratory species
and / or species that congregate in large numbers
globally, as well as highly endangered ecosystems and /
or unique biological systems.

Article 2 — • Grazing shall be permitted after obtaining the Licence, in accordance with ¶

this Law and its executive regulations.
• The Licence shall not be assigned without obtaining the approval of the
Agency.

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Article 3 — • The Agency shall determine the Grazing Seasons based on evaluation ¶

studies of the state of vegetation cover, and any other criteria it deems
necessary.
• The Agency shall determine the Grazing Areas according to the following:
1. The Grazing Areas shall be outside the scope of (2) km from natural
reserves.
2. The Grazing Areas shall be outside the scope of Critical Natural Habitats
and any other areas determined by the Agency.

Article 4 — • The following conditions shall be met by the Grazing Licence applicant: ¶

1. He shall be a UAE national and not be younger than twenty-one
Gregorian years.
2. He shall have a valid and approved certificate issued by the Concerned
Entities stating his ownership of the Livestock.
3. He shall have a certificate issued by the Concerned Entities stating that
his Livestock is registered at the Animal Identification and Registration
System of the Emirate.
4. He shall have a Grazing Ranch Licence issued by the Concerned
Entities.
• The Licence applicant may grieve against the rejection of his application
before the Agency within (30) days from the date of his notification of
the rejection according to the procedures specified in the Executive
Regulation of this Law.
• The Grazing Licence shall be granted for a period of one renewable year
and the Executive Regulation of this Law shall determine the documents,
periods and procedures necessary for the submittal or renewal of the
Licence application.
• The Executive Regulation of this Law shall determine the Grazing
environmental requirements.
•

Article 5 — The following shall be forbidden: ¶

1. Grazing without obtaining a Licence.

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2. Grazing outside the Grazing Areas.
3. Using bicycles, cars, or any type of vehicles or machinery in the Grazing
Areas for the purpose of entertainment.
4. Erecting a permanent or temporary building or any part thereof inside
Grazing Areas.
5. Grazing outside the Grazing Seasons.
6. Placing fences, tools or waste in Grazing Areas.
7. Leaving Livestock Grazing unaccompanied.
8. Not preserving the general cleanliness of the Grazing Areas.
9. Not presenting the Grazing Licence and/or a copy thereof when
requested by the Agency employees.

Article 6 — Whoever violates the provisions of Article (5) of this Law shall be penalised ¶

by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month and a fine not
exceeding one hundred thousand Dirhams, or by one of these penalties. In
case of recidivism, the penalty shall be doubled.

Article 7 — The Chairman of the Judicial Department Abu Dhabi shall, in agreement ¶

with the Chairman of the Board of the Agency, determine the Agency’s
employees who shall have the capacity of judicial enforcement officers for
the crimes falling within their jurisdiction. They shall have the right to inspect
and supervise the commitment to the provisions of this Law, regulations,
resolutions and circulars issued in implementation thereof.

Article 8 — • The Agency shall have the right to take any of the following administrative ¶

sanctions:
1. Notice.
2. Warning.
3. Temporary suspension of the Licence.
4. Cancellation of the Licence.
• The administrative penalty may be grieved against before the Agency within
sixty days from the date of notifying the grievant of the administrative

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penalty according to the procedures specified in the Executive Regulation
of this Law.

Article 9 — The persons subject to the provisions of this Law shall adjust their situation ¶

according to the provisions thereof within a period not exceeding six months
from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 10 — • The Agency’s Chairman of the board shall, after the approval of the ¶

Executive Council, issue the executive regulations of this Law.
• The policies, regulations, resolutions and circulars in force shall remain in
effect without contradicting the provisions of this Law.
• The Agency’s Chairman of the Board shall issue the policies, resolutions
and circulars necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this
Law.

Article 11 — • Aforesaid Law No. (13) of 2005 shall be repealed. ¶

• Any text or provision violating or contradicting the provisions of this Law
shall be repealed.

Article 12 — This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall be effective from ¶

the date of its publication.
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 26 March 2020
Corresponding to: 02 Shaban 1441 Hijri
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi

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Decrees
Decrees

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