Decree No. (13) of 2011

Concerning the

e-Programme for Hotel and Tourist Establishments in the Emirate of Dubai[1]

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We, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai,

After perusal of:

Law No. (1) of 1997 Establishing the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and its amendments;

Law No. (3) of 2003 Establishing the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai;

Law No. (35) of 2009 Concerning Management of the Public Funds of the Government of Dubai;

Decree (13) of 2001 Concerning Use of the Hotel Establishments Electronic Information System;

Decree No. (22) of 2009 Concerning Special Development Zones in the Emirate of Dubai;

Regulation No. (1) of 1998 Concerning the Licensing and Classification of Hotels, Guest Houses, and Hotel Apartments; its amendments; and its Implementing Bylaw;

Regulation No. (1) of 2002 Concerning the Hotel Establishments Electronic Information System;

Regulation No. (4) of 2006 Concerning Desert Tourist Camps;

Regulation No. (6) of 2006 Concerning the Licensing of Tourist Establishments and Travel Agencies and its amendments; and

The legislation regulating free zones in the Emirate of Dubai,

Do hereby issue this Decree.

 

Title of the Decree

Article (1)

This Decree will be cited as “Decree No. (13) of 2011 Concerning the e-Programme for Hotel and Tourist Establishments in the Emirate of Dubai.”

Definitions

Article (2)

The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Decree, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise.

Emirate:

The Emirate of Dubai.

Government:

The Government of Dubai.

Dubai Police

The Dubai Police General Headquarters.

DTCM:

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Director General:

The director general of the DTCM.

Government Entity:

Any of the Government departments, public agencies and corporations affiliated to the Government, or similar entities.

Hotel Establishments:

Hotels, hotel apartments, or guest houses as defined and classified in the above-mentioned Regulation No. (1) of 1998.

Tourist Establishments:

Establishments licensed under the above-mentioned Regulation No. (6) of 2006 to conduct the activity of organising inbound tours. This includes theatres, social clubs, and any other entities authorised by the DTCM to organise or conduct tourist activities.

Establishment:

A Hotel Establishment or a Tourist Establishment.

Tourist Activities:

Activities conducted by an Establishment, such as providing hotel services; organising inbound tours; providing tourist camp accommodations, and pleasure boats and cruise ships rental; and holding Events.

Events:

Conferences, seminars, exhibitions, festivals, concerts, theatricals, and contests.

e-Programme:

An electronic System designated for an Establishment for the purpose of documenting the information and data related to its activities and business in accordance with the classifications within the e-Programme.

Electronic Connection:

Connection of the e-Programme to one or more computers of an Establishment for the purpose of exchanging the data and information recorded on such computers with the concerned Government Entities.

Scope of Application

Article (3)

This Decree will apply to all Establishments in the Emirate, including Establishments licensed in free zones and Special Development Zones.

Subscription to the e-Programme

Article (4)

No Establishment may conduct any Tourist Activity unless it subscribes to the e-Programme and installs the equipment required for operating it.

Subscription Term and Prescribed Fees

Article (5)

a.    No Establishment licence may be issued or renewed unless that Establishment subscribes to the e-Programme.

b.    The term of subscription to the e-Programme will be equal to the term of the licence of the Establishment. Where the Establishment has not subscribed to the e-Programme prior to the effective date of this Decree, it will be deemed subscribed to the same for the remaining validity period of its licence, in which case the fee prescribed for subscription to the e-Programme will be collected pro rata to that period.

c.     In return for the annual subscription to the e-Programme, the DTCM will collect a fee of three thousand Dirhams (AED 3,000.00) from a Hotel Establishment, and one thousand and five hundred Dirhams (AED 1,500.00) from a Tourist Establishment.

Obligations of Establishments

Article (6)

An Establishment must:

1.    install and operate the e-Programme, and enter the data related to its activities, and the data required by the DTCM and the Dubai Police in accordance with the classification adopted in this regard;

2.    install a telephone line for the computer and its peripherals, restricting its use to the requirements of the e-Programme; and connecting the e-Programme to the Dubai Police and other concerned Government Entities; and

3.    pay the financial costs required for setting up the Electronic Connection to the e-Programme and for any variations thereto.

Duties of Dubai Police

Article (7)

Dubai Police will:

1.    set up the e-Programme and supervise its operation, maintenance, and development; and

2.    implement the Electronic Connection of any Government Entity to an Establishment through the e-Programme.

Connecting the e-Programme to Other Systems

Article (8)

No Establishment may connect the computer designated for the e-Programme and its peripherals to any other system without first obtaining the relevant approval from the DTCM and the Dubai Police.

Government Entities Connected to the e-Programme

Article (9)

a.    As of the date this Decree comes into force, the following Government Entities will be connected to the e-Programme:

1.    the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing;

2.    the Dubai Police;

3.    the Department of Economic Development;

4.    the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners’ Affairs in Dubai;

5.    the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation;

6.    the Dubai Media Corporation;

7.    the Roads and Transport Authority; and

8.    Dubai Municipality.

b.    Any Government Entity other than those determined in paragraph (a) of this Article may, upon a request submitted to the DTCM and the Dubai Police, be connected to the e-Programme.

Confidentiality

Article (10)

a.    Information and data entered into the e-Programme will be deemed confidential, and the employees of any Establishment are prohibited from using it for other than their intended purposes. These employees must provide the information and data available to them to the entities determined by the Dubai Police and the DTCM, or determined by judicial authorities pursuant to a court order.

b.    Information and data may be entered into the e-Programme only by the Establishment employees who are so authorised by the Dubai Police or the DTCM.

Penalties

Article (11)

a.    Without prejudice to any stricter penalty stipulated in any other legislation, a person who commits any of the violations mentioned in the Schedule attached to this Decree will be punished by the fine indicated opposite that violation. Upon repetition of the same violation within one (1) year from the date of the previous violation, the amount of the fine will be doubled. A fine must not exceed forty thousand Dirhams (AED 40,000.00).

b.    In addition to the penalty of a fine prescribed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Article, a violating Establishment may be closed for up to three (3) months.

Law Enforcement Officers

Article (12)

Employees of the DTMC nominated pursuant to a resolution of the Director General will have the capacity of law enforcement officers to record the acts committed in breach of the provisions of this Decree and the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof. For this purpose, they may issue the necessary violation reports, and seek the assistance of police personnel.

Grievances in Respect of Penalties

Article (13)

Any affected party may submit a grievance in writing to the Director General in respect of any penalty imposed on him pursuant to this Decree within fifteen (15) days from the date of being notified of such a penalty. The grievance will be considered by a committee formed by the Director General for this purpose. The committee must determine the grievance within twenty-one (21) days from the date of being referred thereto. The decision issued by the committee on the grievance will be final.

Compliance

Article (14)

Establishments existing by the effective date of this Decree must comply with its provisions within a period not exceeding three (3) months from this date.

Issuing Implementing Resolutions

Article (15)

The Director General will, in coordination with the Dubai Police, issue the resolutions required for the implementation of the provisions of this Decree.

Repeals

Article (16)

The above-mentioned Decree No. (13) of 2001 and Regulation No. (1) of 2002 are hereby repealed. Any provision in any other legislation will also be repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Decree.

Publication and Commencement

Article (17)

This Decree will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is published.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Ruler of Dubai

Issued in Dubai on 24 April 2011

Corresponding to 21 Jumada al-Ula 1432 A.H.

Schedule

Violations and Fines

SN

Violation

Fine

(in Dirhams)

1

Failure by an Establishment to subscribe to the e-Programme, renew its subscription, or operate the available equipment

1,000.00

2

Loss of the access code to the Electronic Connection (eligibility)

1,000.00

3

Failure by an Establishment to enter the required information and data into the e-Programme

7,000.00

4

Delay by an Establishment in entering the required information and data into the e-Programme

5,000.00

5

Error in entering the required data in the e-Programme

5,000.00

6

Use by an Establishment of the Electronic Connection system equipment or the telephone line for purposes irrelevant to the e-Programme, or using the e-Programme for other than its intended purposes

1,000.00

7

Failure by an Establishment to provide the concerned Government Entity with the required data and information

2,000.00

8

Allowing other than authorised employees of the DTCM to enter the required information and data into the e-Programme

1,000.00

9

Providing false data or information related to operating the e-Programme

3,000.00

10

Obstructing the work of the employees of the DTCM

10,000.00

11

Disclosing confidential data and information to other than the concerned Government Entities or using it for other than the intended purposes

10,000.00

 



©2019 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.