Federal Decree by Law Concerning the Regulations of Public Welfare Association

Article 34 — Power of Attorney ¶

Chapter Five: The Association Funds

Article 48 — The provisions of Associations shall apply to Unions ¶

Chapter Eight: Social Solidarity Funds

Article 60 — Exemptions and Benefits ¶

Chapter Ten: Administrative Penalties and Sanctions

Article 72 — Publication and Entry Into Force of Decree by Law ¶

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Federal Decree by Law No. (50) of 2023 Concerning the Regulations of Public Welfare Association

We, Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates,
- Upon reviewing the Constitution;
- Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 Concerning the Jurisdictions of Ministries and Powers of Ministers, as amended;
- Federal Law No. (2) of 2008 on Public Welfare Associations and National Societies, as amended;
- Federal Decree by Law No. (20) of 2018 concerning Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism [and Financing of Illegal Organisations, as amended];
- Based on the Proposal of the Minister of Community Development, and the Cabinet Approval,
Have promulgated the following Decree by Law:

Chapter One: General Provisions

Article (1) Definitions
In application of the provisions of this Decree by Law, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them: State; Ministry; Minister; Local Authority; Competent Authority; Public Welfare Associations; Public Welfare Activities; Association; National Society; Union; Social Solidarity Fund; Register. [preview only - full defined terms not captured verbatim]

Article (2) Scope of Application
1. Provisions of this Decree by Law shall be applicable to the Public Welfare Associations licensed [in the State...] [preview truncated]

Article (3) Forms of the Public Welfare Associations
The Forms of Public Welfare Associations shall be as follows: 1. Associations. 2. National Society. [3. Union, etc. - preview truncated]

Article (4) Public Welfare Activities
1. Public Welfare Activities pursuant to the provisions of this Decree by Law shall be determined in [preview truncated]

Article (5) Practice of Public Welfare Activities
1. No group or entity may practice any Public Welfare Activities unless it completes the procedures [preview truncated]

Article (6) Obligations of the Competent Authority Employees
Competent Authority Employees, working for the Competent organisational Units responsible for supervising [preview truncated]

Article (7) Register
1. A Register shall be created in the Ministry to register the Public Welfare Associations. 2. The C[ompetent Authority...] [preview truncated]

Chapter Two: Associations Establishment

Article (8) Requirements for the Establishment of Association
1. The following requirements shall be fulfilled to establish Association: a. The number of Founding [Members...] [preview truncated]

Article (9) Association By-laws
1. The Founding Members shall meet to establish the Association By-laws, provided that the Executive [Regulations...] [preview truncated]

Article (10) Membership in the Association
Membership in the Association shall consist of all Founding Members, and everyone who joins the Association [preview truncated]

Article (11) Temporary Committee
The Founding Members shall elect from among themselves a Temporary Committee of no less than (3) three [preview truncated]

Article (12) Procedures for Establishment of Association
1. The application to establish the Association shall be submitted to the Competent Authority according [preview truncated]

Article (13) Appeal
1. If the Declaration Application is rejected, the Temporary Committee may appeal to the Minister with[in...] [preview truncated]

Article (14) Legal Personality
The Association shall acquire Legal Personality upon the issuance of a resolution declaring it, provided [preview truncated]

Article (15) Elect BOD Members of the Association
The Temporary Committee referred to in Article (11) of this Decree by Law shall summon the General As[sembly...] [preview truncated]

Article (16) Practicing and Participating in Activities and Events
In order to achieve its objectives, and after the approval of the Local Authority and the Ministry, [preview truncated]

Article (17) Affiliation with Regional and international Associations and Organisations
1. The Association may affiliate with, participate in, or become a Member of any Association or Asso[ciation...] [preview truncated]

Article (18) Implementing External Projects
1. Without prejudice to the legislation in force in the State, the Association may practice any Acti[vity...] [preview truncated]

Article (19) Records and Documents
1. The Association shall maintain its records and documents related to the nature of the Association[...] [preview truncated]

Article (20) Branches Establishment
The Association may establish branches within the State, in accordance with the controls and procedures [preview truncated]

Article (21) Office Relocation
The Association may relocate branches from one Emirate to another within the State, in accordance wit[h...] [preview truncated]

Chapter Three: Association Management

Article (22) The Board of Directors (BOD)
1. The Association shall have a BOD whose Members shall not be less than (5) five Members and not mo[re than...] [preview truncated]

Article (23) The Association Director
1. The Association shall have a Director who shall be appointed by the BOD, from among its Members o[r...] [preview truncated]

Article (24) BOD Membership
1. Membership in the BOD may not be combined in more than one Association that aims to achieve the s[ame...] [preview truncated]

Article (25) Rewards
Upon the proposal of the BOD and the approval of the General Assembly, a BOD Member may receive a re[ward...] [preview truncated]

Chapter Four: General Assembly

Article (26) General Assembly Formation
1. The General Assembly shall consist of all Members who meet the conditions and duties of Membershi[p...] [preview truncated]

Article (27) Meeting of the Ordinary General Assembly
1. The General Assembly shall hold, upon a request submitted by the Association BOD, a regular Meeti[ng...] [preview truncated]

Article (28) Duties of the Ordinary General Assembly Meeting
1. At its annual regular Meeting, the General Assembly shall consider matters within the scope of it[s...] [preview truncated]

Article (29) Regular Meetings Quorum
1. The Ordinary General Assembly Meeting shall be deemed valid if attended by more than half of the [Members...] [preview truncated]

Article (30) Meeting of the Extraordinary General Assembly
1. The General Assembly may be called to Extraordinary Meeting based on a request from the Ministry [or...] [preview truncated]

Article (31) Duties of the Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting
1. The Extraordinary General Assembly shall specifically consider the following matters: a. Revok[ing...] [preview truncated]

Article (32) Minutes of the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly Meetings
The Association BOD shall provide the Competent Authority with the Minutes of the Ordinary and Extra[ordinary...] [preview truncated]

Article (33) Quorum of the Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting
1. The Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting is considered valid in the presence of three-quarters [of...] [preview truncated]

Article (34) Power of Attorney
A Member of the General Assembly may delegate another Member who fulfils the conditions and duties o[f...] [preview truncated]

Chapter Five: The Association Funds

Article (35) Financial Resources
The Association Financial Resources shall consist of: 1. The fees charged for the Association Member[ship...] [preview truncated]

Article (36) The Association Funds Nature
1. Subject to the special nature of the Funds of Social Solidarity Funds, the Association Funds are [preview truncated]

Article (37) Bank Accounts
1. Each Association shall have one or more bank accounts in any of the national banks operating in t[he State...] [preview truncated]

Article (38) The Association Funds Investment
1. The Association shall spend its money to achieve the purposes for which it is established. It may[...] [preview truncated]

Article (39) Final Accounts and Draft Annual Budget
1. Each Association shall have a final account approved by one of the approved Audit Offices in the [State...] [preview truncated]

Article (40) Associations Support
Annual financial allocations are allocated in the Ministry budget to support Associations, and the t[erms...] [preview truncated]

Chapter Six: National Society

Article (41) National Society Establishment
The National Society shall be established by allocating money approved by the Competent Authority co[ncerned...] [preview truncated]

Article (42) Founders
The following are required of the Founders of a National Society: 1. The Founding Members holding th[e...] [preview truncated]

Article (43) The By-laws of the National Society
1. The Founding Members shall meet to establish the Association By-laws, provided that the Executive [Regulations...] [preview truncated]

Article (44) National Society BOD of Trustees
1. Every National Society shall have a BOD of Trustees, consisting of at least (5) five Members, for[...] [preview truncated]

Article (45) The provisions of Associations apply to National Societies
The provisions stipulated in this Decree by Law and Executive Regulations thereof concerning Associa[tions...] [preview truncated]

Chapter Seven: Unions

Article (46) Unions Formation
Associations and National Societies registered in accordance with the provisions of this Decree by L[aw...] [preview truncated]

Article (47) Union Tasks
The Union Task with regard to the Associations or National Societies that join it is determined as f[ollows...] [preview truncated]

Article (48) The provisions of Associations shall apply to Unions
The provisions stipulated in this Decree by Law and its Executive Regulations concerning Association[s...] [preview truncated]

Chapter Eight: Social Solidarity Funds

Article (49)
The Executive Regulations of this Decree by Law specify the controls and procedures for establishing[...] [preview truncated]

Chapter Nine: Common Provisions

Article (50) Obligations of the Public Welfare Associations
Public Welfare Associations shall comply as follows: 1. Respect the State constitution, laws, and ap[plicable regulations...] [preview truncated]

Article (51) Prohibitions
Public Welfare Associations and their Members may not do the following: 1. Practice any Public Welfa[re Activity...] [preview truncated]

Article (52) Controls and procedures to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
The Ministry, in coordination with the Local Authority, undertakes the following: 1. Evaluate risks [preview truncated]

Article (53) Supervision and Follow-Up
1. The Competent Authority has the right to supervise the Public Welfare Associations programmes and[...] [preview truncated]

Article (54) Control and Inspection
1. Public Welfare Associations shall be subject to the supervision of the Competent Authority in all[...] [preview truncated]

Article (55) Solution and Liquidation
The Competent Authority may issue a resolution to dissolve and liquidate Public Welfare Associations[...] [preview truncated]

Article (56) Solution and Liquidation Alternatives
Without prejudice to the provisions of Clauses (1) and (2) of Article (55) of this Decree by Law, in[...] [preview truncated]

Article (57) Optional Liquidation
Subject to the text of Article (59) of this Decree by Law, a Public Welfare Association may be volun[tarily...] [preview truncated]

Article (58) Disposing of the Funds of Public Welfare Associations After their Dissolution
1. Those in charge of the affairs of any Public Welfare Association whose liquidation decision has b[een issued...] [preview truncated]

Article (59) Completion of Liquidation Works
In all cases, if the Public Welfare Association is dissolved and liquidated, it shall remain a legal[ person...] [preview truncated]

Article (60) Exemptions and Benefits
Public Welfare Associations subject to the provisions of this Decree by Law shall enjoy the exemptio[ns...] [preview truncated]

Chapter Ten: Administrative Penalties and Sanctions

Article (61) Applying the Severer Penalty
The imposition of the penalties stipulated in this Decree by Law shall be without prejudice to any m[ore severe penalty...] [preview truncated]

Article (62) Penalties
The following shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine of not less than (500,000) five hundred t[housand dirhams...] [preview truncated]

Article (63) Person Responsible for Actual Management
The person responsible for the actual management of a Public Welfare Association shall be punished w[ith...] [preview truncated]

Article (64) Regulation of Violations and Administrative Sanctions
Violations and administrative penalties shall be defined for acts committed in violation of the prov[isions...] [preview truncated]

Article (65) Judicial Enforcement
The Minister of Justice, or the Head of the Local Judicial Authority, each within his jurisdiction, [preview truncated]

Chapter Eleven: Final Provisions

Article (66) Transferring the Jurisdiction of Technical Supervision and Disbursing Subsidies
The Cabinet, based on the Minister proposal, has the right to transfer some of the Ministry powers, [preview truncated]

Article (67) Appeals
1. Subject to Article (13) of this Decree by Law, any interested party may file an Appeal with the Co[mpetent Authority...] [preview truncated]

Article (68) Executive Regulations
The Cabinet shall, based on the proposal of the Minister in coordination with the Competent Authorit[y...] [preview truncated]

Article (69) Executive Resolutions
The Minister and the Head of the Local Authority shall issue the Executive Resolutions necessary to [preview truncated]

Article (70) Regularisation
1. Public Welfare Associations existing at the time of entry into force of this Decree by Law and no[t...] [preview truncated]

Article (71) Repeals
1. Federal Law No. (2) of 2008 concerning Public Welfare Associations and National Societies, as ame[nded, shall be repealed...] [preview truncated]

Article (72) Publication and Entry Into Force of Decree by Law
This Law by Decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force after (6) six [months from its publication] [preview truncated]