Local Order No. (96) of 1995
Concerning the Licensing and Regulation of
Social Clubs in the Emirate of Dubai[1]
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We, Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman
of the Dubai Municipality,
After perusal of:
The powers legally vested in Us pursuant to the decree
establishing the Dubai Municipality;
Dubai Municipal Council Order No. (15) Concerning the
Licensing of Social Clubs;
Local Order No. (14) of 1973 Concerning the
Organisation of Public Exhibitions and Events, as amended by Local Order No.
(36) of 1988; and
The presentation of the Director General of the Dubai
Municipality,
Do hereby issue this Order.
This Order will be cited as “Local Order
No. (96) of 1995 Concerning the Licensing and Regulation of Social Clubs in the
Emirate of Dubai”.
In implementing the provisions of this
Order, the following words and expressions will have the meaning indicated
opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:
|
Emirate: |
The Emirate of Dubai. |
|
DM: |
The Dubai Municipality. |
|
Director General: |
The director general of the DM. |
|
Competent Department: |
The Administrative Affairs Department of the DM. |
|
Club: |
Any society, league, or organisation comprised of a group of
individuals whose purpose is to conduct any social, sports, cultural,
artistic, recreational, charitable, or similar activity. |
|
Register: |
A register maintained by the Competent Department in which the
data and information of licensed Clubs are entered. |
The provisions of this Order will apply to
all Clubs existing by the date on which this Order is issued, and to the Clubs
that will be established after the effective date hereof.
Public-benefit societies established
pursuant to Federal Law No. (6) of 1974 and its amendments; and clubs,
federations, and societies established pursuant to Federal Law No. (12) of 1972
and engaged in sports and youth activities are hereby exempted from compliance
with the provisions of this Order.
No natural or legal person nor any group
of individuals may establish or incorporate a Club regardless of the purpose or
objective thereof; conduct any activity in a Club; open branches of the same;
or relocate it without first obtaining the prior approval of the DM and
completing the registration and licensing procedures in accordance with the
provisions of this Order.
To establish a Club, promoters must issue
a charter that includes the following information:
1. name and address of the Club;
2. activities and objectives of the Club;
3. name of the founders or promoters and
their nationalities, professions, and places of residence;
4. membership requirements and
procedures, and the rights and duties of members;
5. method of constituting the board or
body managing the Club, and its functions;
6. financial resources of the Club; and
7. dissolution and liquidation provisions.
A Club must have premises that include all
the facilities, equipment, and machines required for conducting the activities
for which it is established. These facilities and equipment must meet the
security, safety, environmental, and public health requirements as per the
relevant specifications and stipulations prescribed by the competent entities.
A Register (the “Social
Club Licensing Register”) will be created by the DM. The form of the
Register and the data and information that must be
entered therein will be determined pursuant to a resolution of the Director
General.
An applicant for a Club or a Club branch licence must submit an
application to the Competent Department on the relevant prescribed form, accompanied by the required documents. The
implementing bylaw of this Order will determine the documents that must be
attached to the licence application.
The Competent Department will consider a submitted application and
issue its decision to accept or reject the same within thirty (30) days from
the date of its submission. The Competent Department’s decision to reject an
application must be reasoned.
Upon acceptance of an application, the Competent Department will
charge the applicant the fees prescribed for the licence, licence renewal, or
variation of licence details. The Director General will issue the resolutions
required to determine the fees for each type of application.
An applicant for a licence whose application is rejected may
submit a grievance to the Director General against the rejection decision
within thirty (30) days from the date of being notified of that decision. The
Director General will determine the grievance within two (2) months from the
date of its submission, and his decision in this respect will be final.
A licence for establishing a Club will contain all its relevant
information, including the registration number; date of issue and term of the
licence; the entity in whose name the licence is issued; and the type of
activity(ies) authorised in the Club. A Club will acquire legal personality
upon completing the procedures for registration on the Register.
A Club which is licensed to conduct an activity in the Emirate may
not make any amendments to its charter or managing body without first obtaining
the approval of the Competent Department.
The licence of a Club will be valid for two (2) years from the
date on which it is issued. A licence may, upon the request of a Club, be
renewed upon expiry for the same period subject to the relevant renewal
procedures prescribed by the DM.
A Club must conduct the activity(ies) stated in its licence in
accordance with its charter. A Club may not conduct any commercial or financial
speculation activities, within or outside its premises, in order to generate
profits.
Artistic, charitable, or recreational events, activities,
festivals, and exhibitions held by the Club inside or outside of its premises
will be governed by the provisions and requirements stipulated in Local Order
No. (14) of 1973 Concerning the Organisation of Public Exhibitions and
Ceremonies as amended by Local Order No. (36) of 1988 and its Implementing Bylaw.
A Club may not pursue any objectives or purposes that are illegal,
or that contradict the laws and regulations in force or the dictates of public
order and morality. In addition, the promoters and members of a Club may not
engage in any political activism.
The premises and facilities of a Club may not be utilised for
other than their intended purposes. In particular, no person, other than
security personnel, may sleep or take up residence in any of these premises or
facilities.
Employees of the Competent Department, and employees of the DM who
are authorised by the Director General, may access all premises and facilities
of a Club, submit the relevant reports to the Competent Department, and issue
the necessary violation reports to record the acts committed in breach of the
provisions of this Order.
Without prejudice to any stricter penalty stipulated in any law or
other local order, any person who violates the provisions of this Order or its
implementing bylaw for the first time will be given a written warning. In the
event of repetition of the same violation, the violator will be punished by one
or more of the following penalties:
1. a fine of not less than two thousand
Dirhams (AED 2,000.00) and not more than five thousand Dirhams (AED 5,000.00).
The amount of the fine will be doubled upon committing any subsequent
violations, but must not exceed ten thousand Dirhams (AED 10,000.00); and/or
2. temporary or permanent closure of the
Club premises and revocation of the Club licence upon repetition of violations.
Such temporary or permanent closure will be imposed pursuant to a decision of
the Director General in accordance with the exigencies of public interest.
The fees and fines collected pursuant to the provisions of this
Order will be paid to the DM.
All Clubs existing by the date on which this Order is issued must
comply with its provisions within a period not exceeding six (6) months from
the effective date hereof.
Dubai Municipal Council Order No. (15) Concerning Licensing Social
Clubs is hereby repealed. All orders and resolutions issued before the
effective date of this Order will also be repealed to the extent that they
contradict its provisions.
The Director General will issue the bylaws and resolutions
required for the implementation of this Order.
This Order will be published in the Official Gazette and will come
into force on the day on which it is published.
Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Chairman of the Dubai Municipality
Issued on 9
November 1995
Corresponding to 16 Jumada al-Thaniyah 1416 A.H.
©2016 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the
Emirate of Dubai
[1] Every effort has been made to produce an accurate
and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the purpose of
its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original
Arabic text. In case of conflict the Arabic text will prevail.