Law No. (12) of 2018 Concerning the Establishment of the Department of Community Development

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:
State : The United Arab Emirates.

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Emirate : The Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Executive
Council
: The Executive Council of the Emirate.
Department : The Department of Community Development.
Social Sector : An integrated system for public social work aiming
at providing care and development for individuals,
families and the society in all respects. It includes
public and private entities, profit or non-profit
organisations, which provide services to the social
sector and which are concerned with family affairs in
general and the woman and child in particular, as well
as with the affairs of minors, orphans, people in need,
people with special needs or disabilities, youths,
elderly and persons of unknown parentage.
Affiliates : The entities operating in the Social Sector, affiliated to
the Department, under its control and supervision and
which are specified by a resolution of the Executive
Council.
Private
Establishments
: The private entities operating in the Social Sector,
including the public benefit associations.
Section (2)
Establishment, Objectives and Competencies of the Department

Article 2 — Pursuant to the provisions of this law, a department called "Department of ¶

Community Development" shall be established.

Article 3 — The Department aims at achieving an integrated social work system in ¶

the Emirate and encouraging and supporting the entities operating in the

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social sector to enable them to achieve their goals, raise awareness on the
importance of participation in public social work and promote the values of
community service.

Article 4 — • In order to achieve its objectives, the Department shall assume the ¶

following competencies:
1. Propose the strategic and implementing plans for the Social Sector
in the Emirate, have them approved by the Executive Council and
supervise their implementation.
2. Follow-up the Affiliates’ undertaking to implement the strategic and
implementing plans for the Social Sector.
3. Monitor and supervise all Affiliates, such as their disbursements from
their budgets and revenues earned, as well as their commitment
to their duties and competencies, and approve their strategic and
implementing plans.
4. Regulate the Social Sector in all aspects through the development of
policies, standards, regulations, resolutions and implementing and
operational circulars for said Sector.
5. Monitor and supervise the Social Sector in accordance with the
relevant legislations, conventions and treaties in force for said sector
on the local and international levels, and in coordination with the
relevant entities in the State and abroad.
6. License all institutions, entities, companies and persons working in
the Social Sector and monitor their commitment to providing the
optimum level of quality of services in accordance with the legislations
in force, and in coordination with the relevant entities.
7. Propose the fees, tariffs and prices related to its competencies and
submit them to the Executive Council for approval, in accordance

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with the applicable regulations.
8. Submit periodic reports and analytical studies to Abu Dhabi Executive
Office in relation to the Department's competencies.
9. Encourage investments and partnerships with the private sector
for the projects related to the competencies of the Department in
coordination with the relevant entities.
10. Any other competencies or duties assigned thereto by the Executive
Council.
• The Department may delegate some of its competencies to any other
governmental entity or outsource some to the private sector upon the
approval of the Executive Council.

Article 5 — • The Chairman of the Executive Council shall issue a resolution to specify ¶

any additional competencies for the Department.
• The Executive Council may amend the Department’s competencies
mentioned in this Law or in any other legislation by deletion, addition or
transfer.

Article 6 — All persons, entities and public and private companies, including private ¶

establishments and institutions shall provide the Department with
the documents and information it requires to carry out or execute its
competencies.

Article 7 — The Executive Council shall issue a resolution to determine the Affiliates that ¶

shall be under the control and supervision of the Department.

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Section (3)
General Provisions

Article 8 — In agreement with the Chairman of the Department, the Chairman of ¶

Abu Dhabi Judicial Department shall issue a resolution identifying the
Department’s officers who have been granted the law enforcement authority
for offences within their jurisdiction. They shall have the right to inspect and
monitor all entities, companies and persons operating in the Social Sector,
in order to verify the implementation of the provisions of this Law and its
implementing regulations, resolutions and circulars.

Article 9 — The Private Establishments may not: ¶

1. Exercise any activities in the Social Sector in the Emirate unless the
Department’s approval is obtained.
2. Violate the regulations, resolutions, and circulars issued by the Department.
• No natural person may exercise any profession in the Social Sector - albeit
voluntarily - prior to having obtained the Department’s approval.

Article 10 — • Without prejudice to any more severe penalty prescribed by any other ¶

law, an administrative fine of no more than AED (10,000,000) ten
million shall be imposed on whoever violates the provisions of this Law
and its regulatory, and implementing rules, as well as its implementing
regulations, policies, resolutions and circulars.
• The Department shall take charge of collecting the administrative
fines. Upon the approval of the Executive Council, the Chairman of
the Department shall issue a schedule specifying the offences and the
administrative fines prescribed for each of them, without exceeding the
fine provided for in this Article.

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• The Chairman of the Department or whom he authorises, may propose
reconciliation to the offender, provided that this is established in the
record of proceedings. The offender who accepts reconciliation shall pay
a fine equivalent to 75% of the total administrative fine determined for
the offence within a period not exceeding sixty days from the date of
proposing the reconciliation.
• In all cases, if the offender fails to remove the effects of the offence on
the date scheduled, the Department shall remove such effects at the
expense of the offender.
• The regulatory and implementing rules of this Law shall specify the
procedures of the above-mentioned reconciliation, including its
timeframes.

Article 11 — • The Department may impose any of the following administrative penalties: ¶

1. Notice.
2. Warning.
3. Placing the establishment under financial, administrative and technical
supervision.
4. Temporary suspension of the activity.
5. Cancellation or suspension of the licence.
6. Closing the establishment temporarily or permanently.
• Grievances may be filed against the administrative penalties before the
Department within sixty days from the date of notification of the grievant.
Failure to decide upon the grievance within 90 days from the date of its
submission shall be regarded as an acceptance of the grievance.
• The regulatory and implementing rules of this Law shall determine the
procedures and controls required for the application of the aforesaid
administrative penalties.

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Article 12 — The Department shall propose its organisational structure and submit it ¶

to the Executive Council for approval, in accordance with the applicable
regulations.

Article 13 — • The financial laws and regulations in force in the Emirate shall apply to the ¶

Department.
• The human resources laws and regulations in force in the Emirate shall
apply to the employees of the Department.
• The Civil Retirement Pensions and Benefits law in force in the Emirate
shall apply to the nationals.

Article 14 — • Upon the approval of the Executive Council, the Chairman of the ¶

Department shall issue the regulatory and implementing rules of this Law.
• The policies, regulations, rules, resolutions and circulars in force shall
remain applicable in a manner consistent with the provisions of this
Law until the issuance of its implementing policies, regulations, rules,
resolutions and circulars.
• The Chairman of the Department shall issue the implementing and
operational policies of this Law.

Article 15 — All persons and private establishments subject to the provisions of this Law ¶

shall undergo reconciliation within one year from its effective date. Such
period may be extended by a resolution of the Executive Council.

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Article 16 — • Any text or provision, prescribed in the legislations establishing Affiliates ¶

which is contrary to the provisions of this Law, shall be repealed.
• Any text or provision contrary to the provisions of this Law shall be
repealed.

Article 17 — This Law shall be effective from the date of its issuance and shall be published ¶

in the Official Gazette.
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 20 February 2018
Corresponding to: 4 Jumada Al Akher 1439 H
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi

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Crown Prince Chairman
of the Executive Council
Resolutions
Crown Prince Chairman of the Executive
Council Resolutions

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