Law
No. (1) of 1997
Establishing
the
Department
of Tourism and Commerce Marketing[1]
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We, Maktoum bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai,
After
perusal of:
Decree
No. (6) of 1989 Establishing the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board,
Do hereby issue this
Law.
This Law will be cited as “Law
No. (1) of 1997 Establishing the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing”
and will come into force on the day on which it is published in the Official
Gazette.
The following words and
expressions, wherever mentioned in this Law, will have the meaning indicated
opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:
|
Ruler: |
His
Highness the Ruler of Dubai. |
|
Chairman: |
His
Highness the chairman of the DTCM. |
|
Emirate: |
The
Emirate of Dubai. |
|
DTCM:
|
The
Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. |
|
Director
General: |
The
director general of the DTCM. |
A government department named
the “Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing” is hereby established. The DTCM
will exercise the functions and powers stipulated in this Law and in any
regulations issued in pursuance hereof. His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, is hereby appointed Chairman of the
DTCM.
The DTCM will be responsible
for regulating, improving, and developing the tourism industry and commerce
marketing in the Emirate with a view to increasing the national income, and
fostering understanding among the peoples of the world.
For the purpose of performing
its functions, as stated in the preceding Article, the DTCM will have the
duties and responsibilities to:
1. supervise
tourist and archaeological sites;
2. develop
and implement the plans and programmes which aim to attract tourists from
around the world into the Emirate;
3. develop
and implement comprehensive tourism publicity programmes, and manage and
supervise all operations related to the provision of official tourist
information;
4. consider
and determine projects related to tourism, in light of the plans for developing
the tourism industry in the Emirate;
5. hold,
or participate in, symposia, conferences, exhibitions, and other tourist
activities within and outside of the Emirate;
6. approve
and sponsor the holding of the tourist activities mentioned in the preceding sub-paragraph
in the Emirate;
7. endeavour
to provide all means of comfort and leisure to tourists; and facilitate, in
cooperation with the competent entities, processing their documents;
8. regulate
the tour guide profession, and other professions related to the tourism sector,
and supervise the qualification of those engaged in these professions;
9. license,
classify, and supervise hotels and furnished apartments;
10. supervise
guest houses and restaurants;
11. license,
classify, and supervise tourism, travel, and tourist transport agencies;
12. develop
and implement plans which aim to develop trade relations between the Emirate
and countries of the world; and
13. perform
any other duties related to the functions of the DTCM stipulated in the
preceding Article.
A Director General will be
appointed to the DTCM pursuant to a decree issued by the Ruler. The Director
General will be responsible for applying and implementing the general policy of
the DTCM and managing its executive body.
The Director General will develop
the organisational structure of the DTCM, and implement this organisational
structure upon its approval by the Chairman.
The DTCM may establish
affiliated offices outside of the Emirate. These offices will undertake tourism
promotion and commerce marketing in accordance with the instructions of the
Director General and under his supervision.
The Chairman will issue the regulations
required for the achievement of the objectives and purposes of this Law,
including prescribing the fees that must be collected, methods of collecting
them, and the guarantees that must be provided.
Any person who violates the
provisions of this Law or the regulations issued in pursuance hereof will be
punished, upon his conviction by the court, by a fine of not more than ten
thousand Dirhams (AED 10,000.00) and/ or by imprisonment for a period not
exceeding six (6) months.
Effective as of the day on
which this Law is issued, all the rights, assets, and obligations of the Dubai
Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board will be transferred to the DTCM.
Decree No. (6) of 1989
Establishing the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board is hereby repealed.
Any provision in any other law or legislation will also be repealed to the
extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Law.
This Law will be published in
the Official Gazette.
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Ruler
of Dubai
Issued in Dubai
on 4 January 1997
Corresponding
to 25 Shaban 1417 A.H.
©2015 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.