Law No. (5) of 2020 Concerning the Seizure of Vehicles in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

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:
Emirate : The Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Competent Entity : Abu Dhabi Police General head Quarters.
Commander in Chief : The Commander in Chief of Abu Dhabi Police.
Committee : The Committee for the Disposal of Seized Vehicles.

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Vehicle : Any mechanical machine, ordinary bicycle,
motorcycle, vehicle or any other device moving on
the road by mechanical power or any other means,
according to the provisions of the said Federal Law
No. (21) of 1995.
Seized Vehicle : Every vehicle to be seized by a decision from the
Competent Entity in accordance with the provisions
of this Law.
Owner : The natural or legal person owning an official deed
proving his ownership of the seized vehicle.

Article 2 — The provisions of this Law shall apply to all vehicles seized in the Emirate, ¶

with the exception of vehicles that are to be seized pursuant to judicial
orders or rulings.

Article 3 — Without prejudice to the penalties and measures prescribed in accordance ¶

with the legislations in force, the Commander in Chief shall, after approval
of the Executive Council, issue a table specifying the cases of seizure of
vehicles and the financial value for releasing the seizure, not exceeding AED
50,000 or any other conditions necessary for release of the seizure.

Article 4 — • A committee to be called "Committee for the Disposal of Seized Vehicles" ¶

shall be formed by a decision of the Commander in Chief, provided that
it includes a representative of the Department of Finance. The decision
to form it shall specify the mechanism of its operation and the method of
holding its meetings.
• The Committee shall:

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1. Examine the seized vehicles, evaluate them and sell them through public
auction.
2. Lay down rules, conditions and procedures for dealing with seized vehicles
not suitable for sale by public auction, and obtain approval thereon by the
Commander in Chief.
3. Lay down rules and procedures for dealing with personal belongings - if any
- in the seized vehicles, and obtain approval thereon by the Commander
in Chief.

Article 5 — The Competent Entity may delegate any government entity or the private ¶

sector to manage and regulate the sale of seized vehicles by public auction.

Article 6 — • The seized vehicle shall be disposed of if a period of three months has ¶

elapsed from the date of seizure, without the Owner taking the necessary
measures to release the seizure.
• The Competent Entity shall take the following measures after the expiration
of the period referred to in the previous paragraph of this Article regarding
disposal of the seized vehicle:
1. Notify the seized vehicle owner to release the same, as well as notify the
mortgagee creditors to take the necessary measures to fulfil their right,
within thirty days from the date of notification. Notification shall be made
directly or by announcement through publication in two widespread local
newspapers.
2. The notification or announcement shall include the basic data of the
seized vehicle, and that it will be sold by public auction if it is not released
within the period specified in the notification or announcement.
3. In the event where the period prescribed in the notification or
announcement has passed without the seized vehicle owner releasing
the same, the matter shall be referred to the Committee to handle the

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procedures of sale by public auction.
• The presence of fees, fines, or any other financial obligations due from
the seized vehicle shall not preclude handling the procedures of selling
the same in accordance with the provisions of this Law. The Owner of the
seized vehicle shall remain liable for the fulfilment of these obligations.

Article 7 — In addition to collecting the due amounts, the Competent Entity shall collect ¶

all the expenses it has incurred for this sale and any other expenses related
to seizing these vehicles from the prices of the seized vehicles that are sold
by public auction.

Article 8 — The Owner of the seized vehicle in which the sale procedures by public ¶

auction has commenced in accordance to the provisions of this Law shall
have the right to recover it before the completion of its sale by auction,
provided that he pays all the expenses and fees due on the same at the time
of recovery.

Article 9 — The prices of seized vehicles sold by public auction shall be deposited in a ¶

special account at the Department of Finance as trust deposit in the name
of the Owners thereof after deducting the expenses of announcement,
publication, seizure, sale by public auction, fees and fines entailed therefrom
according to the provisions and procedures set forth in the said Law No. (1)
of 2017.

Article 10 — The ownership of the sold vehicle shall be transferred to the purchaser free ¶

of any financial liabilities entailed to others.

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Article 11 — Any interested party may file a grievance to the Competent Entity against the ¶

decision taken, within 15 fifteen days from the date of being notified of the
appealed decision. Such grievance shall be decided upon within (30) thirty
days from the date of filing. The decision issued concerning such grievance
shall be final.

Article 12 — The Commander in Chief shall issue the decisions necessary for the ¶

implementation of the provisions of this Law.

Article 13 — This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall be effective from ¶

the date of its publication.
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 08 March 2020
Corresponding to: 13 Rajab 1441 Hijri
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi

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