Law No. (20) of 2023 concerning The Establishment of Abu Dhabi Hazardous Materials Management Centre

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:

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Emirate : Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Executive
Council
: The Executive Council of the Emirate.
Centre Abu Dhabi Hazardous Materials Management Centre.
General
Headquarters
: Abu Dhabi Police General Headquerters.
Commander-
in-Chief
: The Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police.
Office : The Weapons and Hazardous Substances Office established
under the aforesaid Federal Law by Decree no. (17) of 2019.
Director-
General
: The Director-General of the Centre.
Competent
Entities
: Any federal or local entity specialised in Handling hazardous
substances.
Hazardous
Substances
: The elements, compounds or mixtures with properties that
are harmful to humans or having a harmful effect on the
environment or properties, whether they are in a liquid, solid
or gaseous state, as specified by a resolution from the Office.
Sectors : All Sectors dealing with Hazardous Substances at any stage
of their Handling.
Establishments : Industrial, commercial, or tourism establishments, or any
craft, professional, service, health, educational, or research
establishments, and other establishments that deal with
Hazardous Substances at any stage of their Handling.
Warehouses
and
Storehouses
: The places or areas designated for preserving, storing, seizing
or keeping Hazardous Substances in accordance with the
standards and requirements Specified by the applicable
legislations.
Handling : All processes related to Hazardous Substances, including
their import, export, re-export, transportation, storage, sale,
offering for sale, purchase, manufacturing, processing and
disposal.

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Article 2 — • A centre shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Law under ¶

the name “Abu Dhabi Hazardous Materials Management Centre”, having
an independent legal personality and enjoying full legal capacity, and
affiliated to the General Headquarters.
• The Executive Council may change the affiliation of the Centre to any other
entity specified thereby.

Article 3 — The Centre’s main office shall be located in Abu Dhabi city, and may, upon a ¶

resolution issued by the Commander-in-Chief, establish branches or offices
inside or outside the Emirate, following the approval of the Executive Council.

Article 4 — • The provisions of this Law shall apply to Hazardous Substances handled in ¶

the Emirate, including free zones.
• The following substances shall be excluded from the application of the
provisions of this Law:
1. Radioactive, nuclear and explosive materials.
2. Hazardous Substances that are Handled for the benefit of the Armed
Forces, the General Headquarters, and any other entity determined by
the Executive Council.
• Subject to Clause (1) of the second Paragraph of this Article, the Centre
shall coordinate with the entities responsible for radioactive, nuclear and
explosive materials for the purpose of exchanging information and data
related to their Handling.

Article 5 — • The Centre shall: ¶

1. Lay down the general policy and strategic plans of the Centre and
submit them to the Executive Council for approval, and follow up on
their implementation.

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2. Lay down the necessary plans to ensure that Sectors, Establishments,
Warehouses and Storehouses implement the regulations, requirements
and standards related to the Handling of Hazardous Substances.
3. Coordinate with the competent local entities to list the unregistered
activities related to the Handling of Hazardous Substances, propose an
entity to register such activity and submit it for approval in accordance
with the legislations in force.
4. Propose a system to classify the Establishments Handling Hazardous
Substances and submit it to the Commander-in-Chief for approval in
accordance with the legislations in force.
5. Propose local lists of any Hazardous Substances other than those listed
on national lists and tables and submit them to the Commander-in-Chief
for approval.
6. Supervise and control the Handling of any substances that the Centre
deems dangerous to the environment, properties, or humans, in
accordance with the applicable legislations.
7. Supervise and control the competent local entities, Sectors,
Establishments, Warehouses, Storehouses, and various means of
transportation for Hazardous Substances and persons, and follow up
on their compliance with all legislations in force.
8. Lay down and develop a mechanism to deal with seized, preserved or
confiscated Hazardous Substances in coordination with the Competent
Entities to ensure their security and preservation until their final disposal.
9. Establish and develop a central operations room to carry out the tasks
of tracking and controlling the Handling of Hazardous Substances and
link it to with Competent Entities.
10. Establish and develop an electronic system for disclosure and self-
reporting of all data and information related to the Handling of Hazardous
Substances.
11. Establish and develop a comprehensive database that includes all data
and information related to the Handling of Hazardous Substances.
12. Lay down the necessary requirements and standards for developing

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training curricula and programmes for Hazardous Substances in
coordination with the Competent Entities.
13. Conduct scientific studies and research related to Hazardous Substances
in coordination with the relevant entities.
14. Any other competencies or tasks assigned thereto by the Executive
Council.
• The Executive Council may amend the competencies of the Centre stated
in this Law or any other legislation by deletion, addition or transfer.
• The Centre may delegate some of its competencies to any other
governmental entity or outsource some of them to the private sector after
obtaining the approval of the Executive Council.

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

Executive Council, and in charge of managing and supervising the Centre’s
functions, and shall in particular:
1. Suggest the strategic and executive plans and programmes of the
Centre and submit them for approval in accordance with the legislations
in force.
2. Follow up on the implementation of the Centre’s strategic and executive
plans and programmes, as well as the programmes, projects and
activities managed or executed by the Center.
3. Manage, develop and implement all the strategic and executive plans and
tasks entrusted to the Centre, either directly or through the work teams
he appoints or entrusts with tasks, in a way that does not contradict the
legislations in force.
4. Suggest initiatives, programmes, studies and recommendations related
to the Centre’s functions and activities and submit them for approval
according to the legislations in force.
5. Suggest the annual draft budget of the Centre and submit it for approval
in accordance with the legislations in force.
6. Suggest the organisational structure of the Centre and submit it for

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approval in accordance with the legislations in force.
7. Propose the legislations and regulatory and executive by laws as well as
the regulations, policies, resolutions and circulars including violations
and administrative fines related to the Centre’s competencies and
submit them for approval in accordance with the legislations in force.
8. Propose the fees, tariffs and prices related to the Centre’s competencies
and submit them to the Commander-in-Chief for approval in accordance
with the legislations in force.
9. Appoint experts, consultants and technicians on a temporary basis,
specify their remuneration and seek the assistance of any experts,
institutions and consulting offices he finds appropriate.
10. Open bank accounts in the name of the Centre in accordance with the
legislations in force.
11. Form internal committees and work teams either from among the
Centre’s employees or outside, specify their tasks and the procedures
of their work.
12. Represent the Centre before the Courts and third parties.
13. Any other competencies or tasks assigned to him by the Executive
Council.
• The Director-General may delegate some of his competencies to any of
the senior staff of the Centre, provided that the delegation is in writing.
• The Executive Council may delegate any of the competencies of the
Director-General to any committees or work teams that he appoints either
from among the Centre’s employees or outside.

Article 7 — The Centre shall submit to the General Headquarters, every three months ¶

or whenever requested, a report on its functions, achievements, budget and
financial and administrative affairs as well as the stages of progress achieved
in the implementation of the competencies and tasks assigned thereto.

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Article 8 — The Centre’s financial resources shall consist of: ¶

• The annual appropriations allocated to it within the general Budget of the
Emirate.
• Any other revenues approved by the Executive Council.

Article 9 — The fiscal year of the Centre shall start on the first of January and end on ¶

the last day of December of each year, except for the first fiscal year which
shall start from the effective date of this Law and end on the last day of
December of the following year.

Article 10 — The Centre shall have one or more accredited auditors to verify its accounts ¶

and financial statements, who shall be appointed by virtue of a resolution
issued by the Commander-in-Chief in accordance with the legislations in
force, specifying as well as the remuneration thereof.

Article 11 — • All persons, entities, Sectors, Establishments, Warehouses and ¶

Storehouses shall provide the Centre with the documents and information
it requests to exercise or implement its competencies.
• All Sectors, Establishments, Warehouses and Storehouses Handling
Hazardous Substances shall register their workers in the register prepared
for this purpose at the Centre and in accordance with the rules in force at
the Centre.

Article 12 — Any natural or corporate person shall be prohibited from: ¶

1. Handling any Hazardous Substances in violation of the provisions of
this Law and the regulations, rules, resolutions and circulars issued in
implementation thereof.

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2. Non-Disclosing or self-reporting of all data and information related to the
Handling of Hazardous Substances in accordance with the disclosure and
reporting mechanism approved by the Centre.
3. Providing false or misleading information or documents containing forged
or incorrect data.

Article 13 — • Without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided for by any other law, ¶

whoever violates the provisions of Article (12) hereof shall be punished by
imprisonment for a period of not less than one year and/or a fine not less
than (1,000,000) one million Dirhams.
• The sanction shall be doubled in case of recidivism.

Article 14 — • Without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated in another law, ¶

whoever violates the provisions of this Law, its regulatory and executive
regulations and the rules, policies, resolutions and circulars issued in
implementation thereof shall be punished by an administrative fine not
exceeding (10,000,000) ten million Dirhams.
• The Centre shall collect the administrative fines and the Commander-in-
Chief shall, after obtaining the approval of the Executive Council, issue
a table specifying the violations and administrative fines prescribed for
each, without exceeding the fine limit set forth in this Article.
• The Centre may offer reconciliation to the violator, provided that this is
recorded in the minutes of the proceedings. The violator who accepts
reconciliation shall pay a fine equivalent to (75%) of the total administrative
fine specified for the violation, within a period not exceeding sixty days
from the date of offering reconciliation to him.
• In all events, if the violator does not remove the effects of the violation in
a timely manner, the Centre shall remove them at the violator's expense.
• The regulatory and executive regulations of this Law shall specify the
reconciliation procedures stated above including their time limits.

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Article 15 — • The Centre may impose any of the following administrative sanctions: ¶

1. Warning.
2. Notice.
3. Temporary suspension of activity in coordination with the Concerned
Entity and in accordance with the legislations in force.
4. Closure of the Establishment permanently or temporarily in coordination
with the Concerned Entity and in accordance with the legislation ins
force.
• Grievances may be filed against the administrative sanctions before the
Centre within sixty days from the date they are notified to the grievant.
Failure to decide upon the grievance within ninety days from the date of
its filing shall be regarded as rejection of the grievance.
• The regulatory and execution regulations of this Law shall specify the
procedures and controls for applying the aforesaid administrative
sanctions.

Article 16 — The Chairman of the Judicial Department – Abu Dhabi shall issue, in ¶

agreement with the Commander-in-Chief, a resolution designating the
Centre’s employees who have the law enforcement capacity for crimes
that fall within their jurisdiction and who have the right to inspect and
monitor as well as verify the commitment of all persons, entities, Sectors,
Establishments, Warehouses and Storehouses to implement the provisions
of the relevant legislations related to the Centre’s competencies.

Article 17 — • The Centre shall be subject to the financial laws and rules in force in the ¶

Emirate.
• The Centre’s employees shall be subject to the human resources laws and
rules in force in the Emirate.
• The nationals among them shall be subject to the Law of Civil Retirement
Pensions and Benefits in the Emirate.

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Article 18 — • The Commander-in-Chief shall, after obtaining the approval of the Executive ¶

Council, shall issue the regulatory and executive regulations of this Law.
• The Commander-in-Chief shall issue the executive and operating policies,
rules, resolutions and circulars necessary for the implementation of the
provisions of this Law.

Article 20 — This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette, and become effective ¶

from the date of its publication.
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
Date: 15 December 2023
Corresponding to: 2 Jumada Al-Akhar 1445 Hijri

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Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Decisions
Ruler of Abu Dhabi Decisions

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Ruler of Abu Dhabi Resolution No. (6) of 2023
Concerning the Appointment of the Director-General
of Central Strategic Affairs at the Department of
Finance
We, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi,
Having reviewed:
• Law No. (1) of 1974 concerning the reorganisation of the Governmental
body in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its amendments;
• Law No. (6) of 2016 concerning the Human Resources in the Emirate of
Abu Dhabi, and its amendments;
• Law No. (1) of 2017 concerning the Financial System of Abu Dhabi
Government, and its amendments;
• Law No. (27) of 2019 concerning the Department of Finance; and
• Based on what was presented by the Chairman of the Department of
Finance,
Issued the following resolution:
Article (1)
His Excellency Sameh Tayseer Mohammed Youssef shall be appointed as the
Director-General of Central Strategic Affairs at the Department of Finance.
Article (2)
This Resolution shall be effective from the date of its issuance and published
in the Official Gazette.
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 20 December 2023
Corresponding to: 7 Jumada Al-Akhar 1445 Hijri

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Ruler of Abu Dhabi Resolution No. (7) of 2023
Concerning the Appointment of the Director-General
of Government Financial Affairs at the Department of
Finance
We, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi,
Having reviewed:
• Law No. (1) of 1974 concerning the reorganisation of the Governmental
body in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its amendments;
• Law No. (6) of 2016 concerning the Human Resources in the Emirate of
Abu Dhabi and its amendments;
• Law No. (1) of 2017 concerning the Financial System of Abu Dhabi
Government, and its amendments;
• Law No. (27) of 2019 concerning the Department of Finance; and
• Based on what was presented by the Chairman of the Department of
Finance,
Issued the following resolution:
Article (1)
Her Excellency Buthaina Abdullah Mohammed El Mazrouei shall be appointed
as the Director-General of Government Financial Affairs at the Department
of Finance.
Article (2)
This Resolution shall be effective from the date of its issuance and published
in the Official Gazette.
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 20 December 2023
Corresponding to: 7 Jumada Al-Akhar 1445 Hijri

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Ruler of Abu Dhabi Resolution No. (8) of 2023
Concerning the Appointment of the Director-General
of Legal Affairs and Compliance at the Department of
Finance
We, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi,
Having reviewed:
• Law No. (1) of 1974 concerning the reorganisation of the Governmental
body in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its amendments;
• Law No. (6) of 2016 concerning the Human Resources in the Emirate of
Abu Dhabi and its amendments;
• Law No. (1) of 2017 concerning the Financial System of Abu Dhabi
Government, and its amendments;
• Law No. (27) of 2019 concerning the Department of Finance; and
• Based on what was presented by the Chairman of the Department of
Finance,
Issued the following resolution:
Article (1)
His Excellency Samer Salah Mohamed Abdel Haq shall be appointed as
Director-General of Legal Affairs and Compliance at the Department of
Finance.
Article (2)
This Resolution shall be effective from the date of its issuance and published
in the Official Gazette.
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 20 December 2023
Corresponding to: 7 Jumada Al-Akhar 1445 Hijri

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Ruler of Abu Dhabi Resolution No. (9) of 2023
Concerning the Appointment of the Director-General
of Executive Financial Affairs at the Department of
Finance
We, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi,
Having reviewed:
• Law No. (1) of 1974 concerning the reorganisation of the Governmental
body in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its amendments;
• Law No. (6) of 2016 concerning the Human Resources in the Emirate of
Abu Dhabi and its amendments;
• Law No. (1) of 2017 concerning the Financial System of Abu Dhabi
Government, and its amendments;
• Law No. (27) of 2019 concerning the Department of Finance; and
• Based on what was presented by the Chairman of the Department of
Finance,
Issued the following resolution:
Article (1)
His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Abdullah Al Mazrouei shall be appointed
as the Director-General of the Executive Financial Affairs at the Department
of Finance.
Article (2)
This Resolution shall be effective from the date of its issuance and published
in the Official Gazette.
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 20 December 2023
Corresponding to: 7 Jumada Al-Akhar 1445 Hijri

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Executive Council
Resolutions
Executive Council Resolutions

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