Law No. (30) of 2019 Concerning the Establishment of the Department of Municipalities and Transport

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.
Emirate: The Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Executive Council: The Executive Council of the Emirate.
Department: The Department of Municipalities and Transport.
Sector of Urban Planning and Municipalities: The sector concerned
with everything that is set up above or below the ground, temporarily or

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permanently, and everything that leads to a change therein, including the
determination of locations, areas and uses and land and marine installations
of all types set up thereon; laying down the standards of development
and design thereof as well as the materials used, the aesthetic works and
anything that is related to the appearance of the city; defining infrastructure
paths, locations and dimensions as well as excavation and reclamation
works; all the works and Data related to the planning, ownership, design,
licensing, execution, usufruct, maintenance, modification, removal thereof
and offering any services related thereto; all the entities and companies
operating therein in a direct way and all their employees; and everything
related to municipalities functions in the Emirate in accordance with the
competencies granted to them.
Municipality: Abu Dhabi City Municipality, Al Ain City Municipality, Al Dhafra
Region Municipality and any municipality that may be established in the
future in the Emirate.
Affiliates: The entities operating in the Sectors of Urban Planning and
Municipalities and Transport, reporting to the Department, which are subject
to the supervision and control of the latter as may be determined by an
Executive Council resolution.
Transport Sector: The Maritime, Civil Aviation and Land Transport Sectors
in the Emirate and all activities, infrastructures, systems and transportation
means related thereto.
Airports: The civil airports existing in the Emirate and what may arise
therefrom in the future.
Ports: The ports existing in the Emirate and any other ports that may be
established in the future except for the petroleum ports and the ports of the
armed forces.
Maritime Sector: The sector concerned with all maritime activities and
affairs in the waters of the Emirate, the vessels, navigation aids, ports
and waterways, maritime installations and docks, infrastructure, licences,
permits, authorisations, commercial activities, safety and security and the
environment related thereto.

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Civil Aviation Sector: The sector concerned with all the civil aviation affairs
and all related aspects, including without limitation air transport (commercial
and private), air navigation, air operations, airports and training and all
activities related thereto.
Waters of the Emirate: The waterways, channels, waterbodies and water
surrounding the islands of the Emirate, as well as the inland waters and the
coasts located within the borders of the Emirate.
Waterways: The water areas surrounding the islands, whether natural or
artificial, as well as the coasts near the beaches located in the Emirate.
Ship: Each structure usually operating or designed to operate in maritime
navigation regardless of its power, load or the purpose of navigation thereof,
whatever its type or form, whether with or without an engine, designed for
the carriage of passengers or goods or for any other commercial or non-
commercial, sport or tourism purposes, fishing or leisure, or exploited in
trade, including floating houses.
Maritime Means of Transport: Any boat, yacht, watercraft, jet ski or any
mobile and steerable maritime transport mechanism or means, whatever the
purpose of its use, that is moving within the Waters of the Emirate, except for
internationally classified commercial ships.
Land Transport Sector: The sector concerned with land transportation
means, including traffic, public transportation and land and maritime
transportation means, passenger transportation, goods carriage, regulation
of vehicle parking, weigh stations, intelligent transportation means, the
activities, infrastructure, utilities, services, logistics, assets, and the booking
and dispatch services related to the sector. It also covers school, workers’
and tourist transport, bicycle and pedestrian paths, congestion and traffic
management, the safety, health and environment related to the sector.
Land Transport Means: Any means designed for the transportation of
passengers and goods, whether a vehicle, a bus, a truck, a tractor with a
trailer, any mechanical machine, bicycle, motorcycle, wagon or any other
device propelled on the road by a mechanical power or any other manner, or

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any amphibious or autonomous vehicle, including light and heavy vehicles,
tractors, all types of mechanical devices as well as electric, connected and
autonomous vehicles.
Public Transportation: The transportation dedicated for individuals and
their luggage through various transportation means classified as public
transportation, whether land or maritime transport means moving inside
the Emirate or heading abroad and vice-versa. It includes bus, train, metro,
tram and taxi transportation as well as the supporting infrastructure such as
the passenger and vehicle stations, shelters, control centres, loading docks,
railway workshops and lines and the tracks required thereto.
Public Means of Water Transport: Any means intended for the public
transport of persons and goods within the waters of the Emirate, including
but not limited to what is referred to as water bus or water taxi.
Cargo Carriage: It includes the transport of materials and live animals via
various transport means designed for each type of goods.
Roads: Lands allocated for traffic or walking, whether or not paved, including
all types of roads, inter alia roads of maintenance and emergency, detours,
bridges, streets, tunnels, pathways and associated shoulders, trenches,
drains, sidewalks, pavements, safety islands, roundabouts, squares, yards,
traffic signs, lighting equipment, light signals, control devices and their
accessories, in addition to load-bearing walls and their barriers.
Weigh Stations: Stations for monitoring the weights of freight vehicles.
Intelligent Transport Systems: Electronic, electrical and mechanical systems
and equipment installed in roads and means of transport, which are
connected, via a wired and wireless telecommunication network, to central
computers containing software that are managed through dedicated control
centres. They monitor and analyse traffic data and make the necessary
changes automatically to ensure the continuity of their operation. Such
systems cover control of traffic, transport network, accident management,
ensuring traffic flow and raising safety standards on the road network and
the means of transport. They also include electronic payment and collection

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systems for the fees of transport, parking areas, road use, as well as electric,
connected and autonomous vehicles.
Chapter (2)
Establishment, Objectives and Competencies of the Department

Article 2 — • A department called "Department of Municipalities and Transport" shall ¶

be established pursuant to the provisions of this Law, and shall replace
both the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities and the
Department of Transport.
• All the employees of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities
and the Department of Transport shall be transferred to the Department,
as well as both Departments’ assets, properties and their rights and
obligations. The Department shall be the legal successor for both the
Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities and Department of
Transport.

Article 3 — The Department shall aim at the following: ¶

• Support urban growth and development in the Emirate, guide and control
the urban development works, and upgrade the municipal work to achieve
a decent level of services and prepare decent living conditions for the
population of the Emirate by supervising and controlling Municipalities
and municipal councils.
• Achieve the highest level of economic growth, service, safety and security
standards, environmental protection and technological development in
the Transport Sector in the Emirate.
• Achieve the optimal level in the fields of Ship services, cargo handling
and storage, and keeping pace with developments in the field of
maritime transport, in accordance with the applicable legislations and
in cooperation with the competent authorities in the State.

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

competencies:
1. Propose the strategic and executive plans for the Sector of Urban
Planning and Municipalities and Transport Sector in the Emirate, for
approval by the Executive Council and supervise their implementation.
2. Follow up the Affiliates’ commitment to implement the strategic and
executive plans for the Sector of Urban Planning and Municipalities and
the Transport Sector.
3. Control and supervise all the Affiliates’ disbursements from their
budgets and revenues, as well as their commitment to their duties and
competencies, and approve their strategic and execution plans.
4. Organise the Sector of Urban Planning and Municipalities and Transport
Sector in all aspects through the laying down of policies, standards,
regulations, resolutions and executive and operational circulars
regulating said Sectors.
5. Control and supervise the Sector of Urban Planning and Municipalities
and Transport 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 authorities in
the State and abroad.
6. License all entities, companies and persons working in the Sector of
Urban Planning and Municipalities and Transport Sector and monitor
their commitment to providing the optimum level of quality services in
accordance with the legislations in force, and in coordination with the
relevant authorities.
7. Propose the fees, tariffs and prices related to its competencies and
submit them to the Executive Council for approval, in accordance with
the applicable regulations.
8. Submit periodic reports and analytical studies to Abu Dhabi Executive
Office in relation to the competencies of the Department.

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9. Encourage investment and partnership with the private sector for
projects related to the competencies of the Department in coordination
with the relevant authorities.
10. The competencies provided for in the aforesaid Chairman of the
Executive Council Resolutions No. (20) and (21) of 2018.
11. Any other competences or tasks assigned to it by the Executive Council.
• The Department may delegate some of its competencies to any other
governmental entity or outsource some of them to the private sector
following the approval of the Executive Council.
• The Executive Council may amend the competencies of the Department
as set forth in this Law or any other legislation by deletion, addition or
transfer.

Article 5 — • Each of Abu Dhabi City Municipality, Al Ain City Municipality, Al ¶

Dhafra Region Municipality, the Integrated Transport Centre and any
municipality that may be established in the future, shall be affiliated
to the Department which shall assume the control and supervision
thereon. The Department may also suggest the necessary amendments
to their organisational structures and submit them to the Executive
Council for approval in accordance with the applicable legislations. The
Department may for this purpose issue the necessary regulations and
resolutions to ensure the progress of work therein.
• The general managers in Municipalities and the Centre shall be
appointed by a Chairman of the Executive Council resolution which shall
also determine their competencies and functions.

Article 6 — The municipal council in the Municipalities shall assume anything that ¶

upgrades the level of services offered in the region, determine the way the
Municipality handles its functions and support the latter to this effect. It
shall also activate the role of the local community in promoting the services

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in the region and may assume in particular the following:
1. Propose legislations related to its competencies and submit them to the
Chairman of the Department.
2. Propose the formation of any permanent or temporary committees it
deems necessary, determine their competencies and submit them to the
Chairman of the Department for approval.
3. Control the works of the permanent and temporary committees.
4. Any other competencies assigned thereto by the Chairman of the
Department.

Article 7 — The Chairman of the Department shall carry out all the powers and ¶

competencies entrusted to the municipal council at Municipalities in case
of its absence.

Article 8 — All persons, entities and public and private companies shall provide the ¶

Department with the documents and information required by it to assume or
execute its competencies.

Article 9 — The Executive Council shall issue a resolution to specify the Affiliates that ¶

shall be under the control and supervision of the Department.
Chapter (3)
General Provisions

Article 10 — In agreement with the Chairman of the Department, the Chairman of Abu ¶

Dhabi Judicial Department shall issue a resolution specifying the Department’s
employees who have been granted the capacity of law enforcement officers
for offences perpetuated within their jurisdiction. They shall have the right

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to inspect and control all entities, companies and persons operating in the
Sector of Urban Planning and Municipalities and Transport Sector, in order
to verify the implementation of the provisions of this Law and the regulations,
resolutions and circulars issued in implementation thereof.

Article 11 — • It is prohibited to establish any works, constructions or projects or to ¶

carry out any activity related to the competencies of the Department
without having obtained an permit from the Department in accordance
with the applicable regulations.
• The person authorised under the preceding paragraph shall comply with
the permit granted to him by the Department, and obay the legislations,
regulations and resolutions applicable in this regard.
• No Means of Transport may be used for the performance of any of the
activities regulated by the Department unless it is licensed or granted
the necessary permit in accordance with the applicable legislations.

Article 12 — • Without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided for by any other ¶

law, an administrative fine of no more than AED (10,000,000) ten
million Dirhams shall be imposed on whoever violates the provisions of
this Law and its regulatory and executive rules as well as its executive
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 limit provided for in this Article.
• The Chairman of the Department or the person delegated thereby may
propose settlement of the offence to the offender, provided that this is

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documented in the minutes of the proceedings. The offender who accepts
settlement shall pay a fine equivalent to 75% of the total administrative
fine prescribed for the offence within a period not exceeding sixty days
from the date of proposing the settlement.
• In all cases, if the offender fails to correct the effects of the offence on
the scheduled date, the Department shall correct such effects at the
expense of the offender.
• The regulatory and executive rules of this Law shall specify the procedures
of the above-mentioned settlement, including the time limits.

Article 13 — • The Department may impose any of the following administrative ¶

penalties:
1. Warning.
2. Notice.
3. Setting financial, administrative and technical supervision over the
establishment.
4. Temporarily suspending the activity.
5. Cancelling or suspending the licence.
6. Temporarily or permanently closing the establishment.
7. Imposing administrative deportation on the foreign person who commits
the administrative offense after fulfilling any other administrative
penalties imposed.
• 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 acceptance of the grievance.
• The regulatory and executive rules of this Law shall determine the
procedures and controls for applying the aforesaid administrative
penalties.

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Article 14 — The Department may coordinate and establish electronic linkage with the ¶

relevant authorities. It may take all necessary measures in coordination with
the said entities, if needed, to remove any Means of Transport associated
with the Transport Sectors, withdraw, tow and seize it provisionally when
required by law, until a judicial ruling is issued to seize said Means of
Transport or sell it at public auction six months after its seizure, while
imposing upon the offender the fees and fines as well as the correction of
the offences resulting in consequence, in accordance with the provisions of
the applicable legislations.

Article 15 — The Department shall propose its organisational structure and submit it ¶

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

Article 16 — • The financial laws and regulations applicable in the Emirate shall apply ¶

to the Department.
• The human resources laws and regulations applicable in the Emirate
shall apply to the employees of the Department.
• The Nationals among them shall be subject to the Civil Retirement
Pensions and Benefits law applicable in the Emirate.

Article 17 — • Upon the approval of the Executive Council, the Chairman of the ¶

Department shall issue the regulatory and executive 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 the policies, regulations, rules, resolutions and
circulars implementing its provisions.
• The Chairman of the Department shall issue the necessary executive

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Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 15 November 2019
Corresponding to: 18 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1441 Hijri
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
and operational policies, resolutions and circulars required for the
implementation of the provisions of this Law.

Article 18 — • Aforesaid Law No. (5) of 2018 and Law No. (6) of 2018 shall be repealed. ¶

• Any provision provided for in the legislations establishing the Affiliates,
which is contrary to the provisions of this Law, shall be repealed.
• Any provision contrary to the provisions of this Law shall be repealed.

Article 19 — This Law shall be effective from the date of its issuance and published in the ¶

Official Gazette.

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Decrees
Decrees

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