Law No. (5) of 2019 Concerning the Establishment of Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority

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 : The Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Government : The Government of Abu Dhabi.
Executive
Council
: The Executive Council of the Emirate.
Department : The Department of Community Development.
Authority : Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority.
Director General : The Director-General of the Authority.
Social Support : The Financial or In-kind Support provided by the
Government to Eligible Persons according to the rules
and standards approved by the Executive Council.
Eligibility
Threshold
: The amount determined by the Department as a
minimum monthly average income, to be used as
basis for eligibility of Social Support in case of non-
achievement thereof.
Financial
Support
: The cash amount granted to the Eligible Person, either
periodically or intermittently.
In-kind Support : Non-material assistance and aids granted to the Eligible
Person.
Eligible Person : Any individual or family who fulfil the conditions for
obtaining Social Support.

Article 2 — • An authority called “Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority” shall be ¶

established pursuant to the provisions of this Law, shall have an independent
legal personality and full legal capacity to act, and shall affiliated to the
Department.
• The Executive Council may change the affiliation of the Authority to any
entity determined by it.

Article 3 — The Authority’s Main Office shall be located in Abu Dhabi city and it may, ¶

upon a resolution issued by the Chairman of the Department, establish
branches or offices inside or outside the Emirate following the approval of
the Executive Council.

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Article 4 — • The Authority aims to provide Social Support to Eligible Persons and may, ¶

for this purpose:
1. Prepare the Authority’s strategy and general policy and submit them to
the Department for approval thereof by the Executive Council.
2. Propose the rules and standards required for the provision of Social
Support from the Government to the Eligible Persons, and submit them
to the Department for approval by the Executive Council.
3. Provide Financial Support to the Eligible Persons according to the
approved rules.
4. Conduct social research and studies related to its fields of work in
coordination with the concerned entities, and may, for this purpose,
request data and information from such entities.
5. Contribute with the concerned entities in the development of the
necessary programmes to support the Eligible Persons and enable them
to reach financial sufficiency and independence.
6. Prepare a record containing the data of Eligible Persons for Social
Support programmes.
7. Spread the culture of financial management among the Eligible Persons,
in order to enhance their financial awareness in coordination with the
concerned entities.
8. Study all forms of Social Support and their financial and social effects
and submit proposals thereon to the Department.
9. Consider the exceptional cases of the Social Support applications
according to the rules approved by the Executive Council.
10. Decide upon the grievances filed by the people with interest to appeal
against the resolutions issued by the Authority, according to the rules
and procedures determined by the Director General.
• The Executive Council may amend the functions of the Authority stated
in this Law or any other legislation, through deletion, addition or transfer.
• The Authority 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.

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Article 5 — • The Authority may have a Chairman appointed by a resolution of the ¶

Chairman of the Executive Council who shall be supervising the functions
and tasks of the Authority and its Director General.
• The Executive Council may assign any other competencies or tasks to the
Chairman of the Authority.

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

the Chairman of the Executive Council who shall steer and supervise the
Authority’s functions, and may in particular:
1. Suggest the strategic and executive 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 executive plans
of the Authority and the programmes and projects supervised or
implemented by it.
3. Manage, develop and implement all strategic and executive plans
entrusted to the Authority, either directly or through the work teams
appointed or assigned with tasks, without contradicting the legislations
in force.
4. Suggest initiatives, programmes, projects, studies and recommendations
related to the Authority’s functions and activities and present them for
approval according to the procedures followed in the Department.
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 for the Authority and submit it for
approval according to the legislations in force.
7. Appoint experts, consultants and technicians on a temporary or
permanent basis and determine their fees. He may also refer to experts
and consulting establishment and offices as he deems proper.
8. Open bank accounts in the name of the Authority according to the
legislations in force.

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9. Form committees and internal work teams from among the employees
of the Authority and outside the Authority, and determine their tasks
and work procedures.
10. Suggest legislations, regulatory and executive regulations, systems,
policies, resolutions and circulars, including the violations and
administrative fines related to the functions of the Authority and submit
them for approval according to the legislations in force.
11. Suggest fees, tariffs and prices related to the functions of the Authority
and submit them for approval according to the legislations in force.
12. Represent the Authority before the Courts and third parties.
13. Any other competencies or tasks assigned by the Executive Council.
• The Director-General may delegate some of his functions to any senior
employee in the Authority, provided that the delegation is in writing.
• The Executive Council may delegate any of the Director General’s
competencies to any committees or work teams appointed from inside or
outside the Authority.

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

not exceeding seven members, including the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees, whose appointment and remuneration are determined by an
Executive Council resolution.
• The Board of Trustees shall provide advice and consultancy to each of the
Department and the Authority concerning all or some of the competencies
of the Authority and shall make recommendations and suggestions
concerning the plans, programmes, projects and activities supervised,
managed or implemented by it.
• The Board of Trustees shall hold its meetings according to the rules and
regulations approved by the Chairman of the Department.
• The Chairman of the Department may assign the Board of Trustees to
follow up on the functions of the Director-General if necessary.

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Article 8 — The Authority shall submit to the Department every three months, or ¶

whenever it is required, a report on its functions, achievements, budget,
administrative and financial affairs as well as the progress achieved in the
implementation of the competencies and tasks assigned to it.

Article 9 — The Department may, by a resolution from its Chairman, provide logistical ¶

support and all operational functions related to the supporting services,
including human resources, financial affairs, procurement, electronic systems
and other functions and services related to the corporate affairs of the Authority.

Article 10 — The Authority’s financial resources shall consist of: ¶

• Annual appropriations allocated thereto by the Government.
• Donations and contributions offered thereto following the approval of the
Executive Council.
• Any other revenues approved by the Executive Council.

Article 11 — The fiscal year of the Authority shall begin from the first of January and ¶

end on December 31st each year, with the exception of the first fiscal year
which shall begin from the date of entry into effect of this Law and end on
December 31st of the following year.

Article 12 — The Authority shall have one or more accredited external auditors to verify ¶

its accounts and financial statements, who shall be appointed by virtue of
a resolution issued by the Chairman of the Department according to the
legislations in force at the Emirate, specifying as well their remuneration.

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

Emirate.
• The Authority’s employees shall be subject to the human resources laws
and rules in force in the Emirate.
• The national employees shall be subject to the Civil Retirement Pensions
and Benefits Law in force in the Emirate.

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: 31 January 2019
Corresponding to: 25 Jumada Al-Awwal 1440 Hijri
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi

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