Law No. (21) of 2019 Concerning The Establishment of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority

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

phrases shall have the meanings assigned 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
Authority : Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority

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Director-General : The Director-General of the Authority
Early Childhood : The period commencing from the beginning of
pregnancy until the age of eight years.

Article 2 — • An Authority shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Law ¶

under the name of “Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority” and shall have
an independent legal personality as well as a full legal capacity to act. It
shall be affiliated to the Executive Council.
• The Executive Council may change the affiliation of the Authority to any
entity as it decids.

Article 3 — The main office of the Authority shall be located in Abu Dhabi City. Branches ¶

or offices thereof may be established inside or outside the Emirate following
the approval of the Executive Council.

Article 4 — The Authority shall assume the following Competencies: ¶

1. Laydown a comprehensive strategy for Early Childhood in the Emirate
and submit it to the Executive Council for approval and follow-up on the
implementation thereof.
2. Review the policies and programmes related to Early Childhood in the
Emirate and evaluate them in coordination with the concerned entities.
3. Suggest any legislations, policies and regulations related to Early
Childhood, and submit them for approval according to the legislations
in force.
4. Manage and implement any matters related to Early Childhood in the
Emirate.
5. Coordinate and cooperate with the concerned entities to laydown the
necessary plans for the development of any programmes related to Early
Childhood and the manner of providing any services related thereto.

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6. Conclude agreements with the entities and companies concerned
with Early Childhood inside and outside the Emirate according to the
legislations in force.
7. Conduct researches and studies in the field of Early Childhood, refer to
the best local, regional and international practices, and suggest the best
solutions and recommendations in this regard.
• The Executive Council may amend the Authority’s competencies indicated
in this Law or in any other legislation, either by deletion, addition or transfer
thereof.
• The Authority may delegate some of its competencies to any other
governmental entity, or may outsource some of them to the private sector
following the approval of the Executive Council.

Article 5 — • The Authority may have a chairman who shall be appointed by a resolution ¶

of the Chairman of the Executive Council to supervise the Competencies
and functions of the Authority and the Director-General thereof.
• The Executive Council may assign the Authority's Chairman with any other
competencies or functions.

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

Executive Council to conduct and supervise the functions of the Authority.
the Said Director-General shall particularly assume the following:
1. Suggest the strategic and operational plans of the Authority and submit
them for approval according to the legislations in force.
2. Follow up on the implementation of the strategic and operational plans
of the Authority as well as the programmes and projects which are
managed and implemented thereby.
3. Manage, develop and implement all the strategic and operational duties
assigned to the Authority, either directly or through any work teams
appointed by him or assigned with duties thereby, consistently with the
legislations in force.
4. Suggest initiatives, programmes, projects, studies and recommendations
related to the functions and activities of the Authority, and submit them
for approval according to the procedures in place.

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5. Suggest the annual draft budget of the Authority and submit it for approval
according to the legislations in force.
6. Suggest the organisational structure of the Authority and submit it for
approval according to the legislations in force.
7. Appoint experts, consultants and professionals on a temporary or
permanent basis, and determine their remuneration. The Director-
General may seek the assistance of any experts, institutions and
consulting offices he deems appropriate.
8. Open bank accounts in the name of the Authority according to the
legislations in force.
9. Form internal committees and teams from among the employees of the
Authority or others, and determine their duties and the procedures of
their work.
10. Suggest legislations, organizational and executive regulations, policies,
resolutions, and circulars related to the Competencies of the Authority,
and submit them for approval, according to the legislations in force.
11. Suggest fees, tariffs and prices related to the competencies of the
Authority and submit them for approval according to the legislations in
force.
12. Represent the Authority before the courts and any third parties.
13. Any other Competencies or duties assigned thereto by the Executive
Council.
• The Director-General may delegate some of his competencies to any of
the senior employees of the Authority provided that such delegation is in
writing.
• The Executive Council may delegate any of the Competencies of the
Director-General to any of the committees or work teams which are
formed from among the employees of the Authority or others.

Article 7 — • The Authority may have a Board of Trustees consisting of not less than ¶

three members and not more than eight members including the Chairman.
The Chairman and the members shall be appointed and their remuneration
shall be determined by virtue of a resolution of the Executive Council.
• The Board of Trustees shall provide advice to the Authority regarding all
or some of its competencies, and shall present recommendations and
proposals concerning the plans, programmes, projects and activities
supervised, managed or implemented thereby.

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• The Board of Trustees shall convene its meetings according to the rules
and regulations approved by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
• The Executive Council or the person delegated thereby may assign the
Board of Trustees to follow up on the work of the Director-General in case
the work requires so.

Article 8 — The Authority shall submit to the Executive Council or the person delegated ¶

thereby a report on an annual basis – or whenever required – about its
functions achievements, budget, administrative and financial matters as well
as the stages of progress reached in the implementation of the competencies
and duties assigned thereto.

Article 9 — The Authority may request information, data and statistics related to Early ¶

Childhood from the concerned entities.

Article 10 — The financial resources of the Authority shall consist of the following: ¶

1. Financial appropriations allocated thereto by the Government.
2. Any other revenues approved by the Executive Council.

Article 11 — The fiscal year shall begin on the 1st of January and shall end on the 31st ¶

of December of every year, excluding the first fiscal year which shall start
on the date of enforcement of this Law until the end of December of the
following year.

Article 12 — The Authority shall have one or more external certified auditors, for the ¶

auditing of the accounts and financial statements of the Authority. Such
auditors shall be appointed and their remuneration shall be determined by
a resolution of the Director-General according to the legislations in force in
the Emirate.

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

in the Emirate.
• The employees of the Authority shall be subject to the laws and regulations
of Human Resources in force in the Emirate.
• The Nationals shall be subject to the Law concerning the civil retirement
pensions and benefits in force in the Emirate.

Article 14 — • Aforesaid Chairman of the Executive Council Resolution No. (73) of 2017 ¶

shall be repealed.
• Any provision contrary to the provisions of this Law shall be repealed

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

Official Gazette.
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 4 July 2019
Corresponding to: 1 Dhi al-Qi'dah 1440 Hijri
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi

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