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
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 above-mentioned tourist
activities 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.