Federal Decree by Law Regarding the Establishment of the Federal Geographic Information Center

Article 1 — Definitions ¶

Establishment of the Center and its Headquarters: Article (2)

Article 5 — Official Reference for Geographic Information ¶

Competences of the Center: Article (6)

Article 21 — Publication and Entry into Force ¶

Federal Decree by Law No. (5) of 2019 Regarding the Establishment of the Federal Geographic Information Center

We, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates,
− Having reviewed the Constitution;
− Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 Regarding the Competences of Ministries and Powers of Ministers, as amended;
− Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 Promulgating the Penal Code, as amended;
− Federal Law No. (35) of 1992 Promulgating the Criminal Procedures Law, as amended;
− Federal Decree by Law No. (6) of 2007 Regarding the Establishment and Organization of the National Center of Meteorology, as amended;
− Federal Decree by Law No. (11) of 2008 Regarding Human Resources in the Federal Government, as amended;
− Federal Law No. (1) of 2011 Regarding Public Revenues of the State;
− Federal Law No. (8) of 2011 Regarding the Reorganization of the State Audit Institution;
− Federal Decree by Law No. (5) of 2011 Regarding the Regulation of Boards of Directors, Trustees, and Committees in the Federal Government;
− Federal Decree by Law No. (8) of 2011 Regarding the Rules for the Preparation of the General Budget and the Final Account;
− Federal Decree No. (98) of 2009 Regarding the Establishment, Formation, and Competencies of the Border Affairs Council; and
− Upon the proposal of the Minister of State for Defense Affairs, and the approval of the Cabinet,
Hereby promulgate the following Decree by Law:

Article (1) Definitions

For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this Decree by Law, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:
State: The United Arab Emirates.
Center: The Federal Geographic Information Center.
Board of Directors: The Board of Directors of the Center.
Chairman of the Board of Directors: The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Center.
Director General: The Director General of the Center.
Concerned Entities: Federal or local government entities concerned with the management, establishment, collection, use, publication, distribution, and storage of geographic information, and any other entity, regardless of its nature, that undertakes the establishment, collection, publication, distribution, or storage of geographic information.
Geographic Information: Information, data, knowledge, and activities related to locations and places, including survey, marine, and spatial data, and presented in the form of maps, drawings, lists, aerial or satellite images, or databases, whether in two-dimensional or three-dimensional formats.
Geographic Information Systems: Processes for collecting, entering, processing, displaying, and producing geographic and descriptive information for specific purposes, and for storing, retrieving, and analyzing such information by any means, including spatial and statistical analysis, and displaying it on a computer screen, in printed form, or through a website.
Geographic Information Database: A database containing geographic information and linking digital maps to the attributes they represent.
Attributes: Data, descriptions, and characteristics associated with features stored in separate tables.
Surveying: All operations concerned with the representation and measurement of the Earth's surface and the features thereon.
Field Survey: All technical works related to the collection, classification, and measurement of natural or artificial features, and the determination of locations of survey control points in the State.
Aerial Survey: All technical works related to the collection of spatial data and information from the air using aircraft, cameras, or special aerial survey devices for the purpose of producing information and data about the Earth's surface or subsurface.
Hydrographic Survey: All technical works related to measuring water depths, marine currents, and tides, and collecting marine information using ships, aircraft, or any other means for the purpose of producing nautical charts or data tables relating to water characteristics, seabed features, and navigational channels, as well as all scientific and technical activities conducted in the marine areas of the State.
Geodetic Survey: The selection and determination of ground control point locations on the Earth's surface, and the use of astronomical observation methods to determine the observer's position on the Earth's surface for fixing point locations relative to latitude and longitude. It includes the study of tides and seabed characteristics to determine vertical datum, map production, and precise levelling to determine point elevations relative to mean sea level. It also includes the conduct of magnetic observation operations and the establishment of stations to study the magnetic declination, as well as the measurement of distances using electronic measuring devices, including any survey work related to the establishment of geodetic points or geodetic networks based on unified coordinate and reference points covering the State or at the level of the Emirates' borders, which constitute the primary reference for survey projects.
Maps: An engineering drawing of natural and man-made features for a specific location on the Earth's surface, showing symbols and spatial relationships between such features.
Aerial Photography: Imaging from the air via a camera mounted on an aircraft or any other platform for a specific location.
Satellite Imagery: Images of the Earth taken by a satellite.
Survey Station: A fixed reference station continuously connected to satellites to determine geographic locations and transmit readings and corrections, enabling surveyors or survey equipment to carry out surveying measurements and obtain horizontal and vertical coordinates.
Geographic Names: A name given to a terrestrial site or feature to designate a specific place, feature, or area, including cities, neighborhoods, and natural or constructed features.

Establishment of the Center and its Headquarters: Article (2)

A center named "The Federal Geographic Information Center" shall be established, enjoying legal personality, an independent budget, and full legal capacity to undertake the legal acts and dispositions necessary to carry out its functions and exercise its competences. It shall be affiliated with the Cabinet.

Article (3) Headquarters

The Center's main headquarters shall be located in the city of Abu Dhabi, and branches or offices therefor may be established within the State by a decision of the Board of Directors.

Article (4) Objectives of the Center

The Center aims to coordinate efforts, procedures, and policies related to Geographic Information with all Concerned Entities, and to standardize scales, standards, specifications, and procedures within the State, in a manner that serves the requirements of such entities and supports the decision-making process.

Article (5) Official Reference for Geographic Information

1. The Center shall be deemed the official reference at the State level with respect to Geographic Information, and for the issuance of official maps related thereto, in coordination with the concerned government entities in the State.
2. Subject to the provisions of Clause (1) of this Article, each Emirate of the State, within its jurisdiction, may designate any local government entity in the Emirate, or any center accredited thereby, as an official source for Geographic Information in that Emirate.

Competences of the Center: Article (6)

Without prejudice to the competences assigned under applicable laws and legislation to the Concerned Entities concerned in matters of Geographic Information or data protection, the Center shall have the following competences:
1. Developing strategic plans, frameworks, policies, standards, specifications, and procedures necessary to ensure the management, collection, publication, integration, and protection of the confidentiality of biometric geographic information.
2. Issuing the official maps of the State, after approval by the concerned authority, and providing the fundamental Geographic data and Information to the Concerned Entities that use Geographic Information systems.
3. Establishing and unifying the standards, policies, specifications, governance frameworks, and procedures related to Geographic Information, including the addressing system and Geographic Names at the State level.
4. Regulating, managing, and issuing the licenses and permits necessary for the Concerned Entities in respect of the establishment, collection, enumeration, use, surveying, distribution, and storage of Geographic data and Information.
5. Developing and updating the technical specifications for collecting Geographic Information through surveying, Aerial Photography, or Satellite Imagery by coordinating programs and projects among the Concerned Entities.
6. Promoting awareness of the importance and confidentiality of Geographic Information, and qualifying national cadres in the field of Geographic Information.
7. Representing the State in international agreements, programs, and forums related to Geographic Information, in coordination with the Concerned Entities.
8. Organizing conferences, seminars, and workshops, and establishing and managing partnerships in cooperation with international and regional organizations concerned with Geographic Information systems.
9. Establishing and maintaining a federal Geographic Information Database.
10. Conducting any type of Field, Aerial, Hydrographic, or Geodetic Surveys.
11. Any other tasks and competences assigned to the Center by the Cabinet.

Article (7)

1. The Concerned Entities shall provide the Center with the Geographic data and Information it requests, update such information, and provide it with informational and knowledge support.
2. The Center shall classify Geographic data and Information and determine the methods of handling them in accordance with the levels of confidentiality prescribed by a decision of the Board of Directors.

Board of Directors: Article (8)

The Center shall be managed by a Board of Directors formed by a resolution of the Cabinet. The formation resolution shall specify the Chairman of the Board of Directors, their deputy, the term of the Board, the remuneration of its members, and the mechanism for convening its meetings and adopting its decisions.

Article (9) Competences of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall have the following competences:
1. Proposing policies, strategies, and legislation related to Geographic Information in the State and submitting the same to the Cabinet.
2. Proposing the general policy of the Center, its strategic plan, programs, and the necessary programs and projects, and supervising their implementation following approval thereof by the Cabinet.
3. Proposing federal technical standards and specifications for Geographic Information systems and submitting the same to the Cabinet for approval.
4. Proposing the conditions and controls for practicing and exchanging activities related to Geographic Information in the State, and submitting the same to the Cabinet for approval.
5. Proposing a unified addressing system and Geographic Names at the State level and submitting the same to the Cabinet for approval.
6. Approving the Center's technical, administrative, and internal regulations.
7. Approving the organizational structure and submitting the same to the Cabinet for approval.
8. Approving the draft budget of the Center and its final account, and submitting the same to the Ministry of Finance for inclusion in the budget law and the final account law.
9. Proposing the fees for the services provided by the Center and submitting them to the Ministry of Finance for presentation to the Cabinet for approval.
10. Accepting donations, aids, and grants in a manner consistent with the competences and objectives of the Center.
11. Any other competences assigned thereto by the Cabinet.

Article (10) The Director General

The Center shall have a Director General whose appointment and grade shall be determined by a Federal Decree, issued upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Director General shall represent the Center before the judiciary and in its relations with third parties, and shall be responsible before the Board of Directors for implementing the Center's policies and strategies and ensuring the proper management of its technical, administrative, and financial affairs. The Director General shall, in particular, have the following powers:
1. Preparing work plans and programs, together with the related projects, and submitting the same to the Board of Directors for approval, and following up on their implementation.
2. Preparing the organizational structure and submitting the same to the Board of Directors for approval.
3. Preparing the administrative and internal regulations of the Center and submitting the same to the Board of Directors for approval.
4. Preparing the draft annual budget and the final account of the Center and submitting the same to the Board of Directors for their approval.
5. Appointing the employees of the Center and issuing decisions related to their employment affairs, within the limits of the powers vested therein, and in accordance with the applicable systems and regulations at the Center.
6. Implementing and following up on the decisions, policies, plans, and programs established by the Board of Directors.
7. Submitting periodic and annual reports on the progress of work at the Center to the Board of Directors.
8. Managing the Center, supervising its work system, and following up on the implementation of the applicable regulations and systems at the Center, and working towards their development.
9. Any other competences or tasks assigned thereto by the Board of Directors.

Article (11) Financial Resources

The financial resources of the Center shall consist of:
1. Annual financial appropriations allocated to the Center from the State's general budget.
2. Donations, aids, and grants provided to the Center and approved by the Board of Directors.
3. Revenues generated by the Center from the exercise of its competences and tasks.

Article (12) Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Center shall begin on the first of January and end on the thirty-first of December of each year. By way of exception, the first fiscal year of the Center shall commence from the date of entry into force of this Decree by Law and shall end on the thirty-first of December of the following year.

Article (13) Funds of the Center and Tax Refund

1. The funds of the Center shall be deemed public funds.
2. The Center shall be entitled to recover the input tax paid, in accordance with the mechanisms stipulated in the applicable tax laws and legislation in the State.

Penalties Article (14)

A penalty of imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and a fine of not less than fifty thousand dirhams and not exceeding one hundred thousand dirhams, or either of these two penalties, shall be imposed on any person who commits any of the following acts:
1. Providing data or information, or offering services related to Geographic Information, without obtaining prior approval from the Center or the concerned local entity, as the case may be.
2. Establishing Survey Stations, or operating surveying equipment or Aerial Photography cameras, without obtaining a permit from the Center or the concerned local entity.
3. Collecting Geographic data or Information through Aerial Photography, surveying in all its forms, survey equipment, photographic imaging, or navigation and positioning systems, for the purpose of issuing, publishing, or selling maps or Geographic Information, without obtaining prior approval from the Center or the concerned local entity.

Article (15)

A penalty of imprisonment and a fine, or either of these two penalties, shall be imposed on any person who violates any other provision of this Decree by Law.

Article (16)

The penalties stipulated in this Decree by Law shall not prejudice any more severe penalty provided for in any other law.

Final Provisions: Article (17)

The legislations governing human resources, financial, accounting, and procurement affairs applicable within the Federal Government shall apply to the Center.

Article (18)

The employees of the Center, as designated by a decision issued by the Minister of Justice in agreement with the Chairman of the Board of Directors, shall have the capacity of judicial enforcement officers in establishing violations of the laws and regulations related to Geographic Information that the Center is competent to implement, each within their scope of competence.

Article (19)

Subject to the competences vested in the Cabinet pursuant to Article (9) of this Decree by Law, the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall, after coordination with the Concerned Entities, issue the regulations and decisions necessary for the implementation of its provisions.

Article (20) Repeals

Any provision that contradicts or conflicts with the provisions of this Decree by Law is hereby repealed.

Article (21) Publication and Entry into Force

This Decree by Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force on the day following the date of its publication.

Translated in cooperation with