Decree No. (48) of 2024

Establishing the

Dubai Resilience Centre[1]

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

After perusal of:

Federal Law by Decree No. (2) of 2011 Establishing the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority, and its amendments;

Law No. (1) of 2016 Concerning the Financial Regulations of the Government of Dubai and its amendments;

Law No. (8) of 2018 Concerning Management of the Government of Dubai Human Resources and its amendments;

Law No. (26) of 2023 Concerning the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai; and

Decree No. (4) of 2021 Concerning the Supreme Committee of Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management in the Emirate of Dubai,

Do hereby issue this Decree.

Definitions

Article (1)

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.

Executive Council:

The Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai.

NCEMA:

The National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority.

SCCDM:

The Supreme Committee of Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management in the Emirate of Dubai.

DRC:

The Dubai Resilience Centre.

CEO:

The chief executive officer of the DRC.

Resilience:

The Emirate’s ability to achieve Preparedness for managing and countering Incidents by implementing Response, Recovery, and adaptation measures.

Incident:

This includes any Threats, Risks, Emergencies, Crises, and Disasters.

Threat:

Any action that poses a threat to society, the environment, public health, essential services, public safety, or any other area.

Risk:

An occurrence or series of occurrences, either natural or man-made, that may result from error, negligence, failure to follow proper procedures; or existing vulnerabilities. These can lead to an Emergency, Crisis, or Disaster, causing material or moral harm to members of the community, including injuries, fatalities, property loss, or environmental, economic, social, and health damage.

Emergency:

A major occurrence or a series of major occurrences which cause substantial damage to life or property; which compromise public order, the continuity of government work, human health, the environment, or the economy; and which require special mobilisation in coordination with the Concerned Entities.

Crisis:

An occurrence or a series of occurrences which are more complicated than an Emergency; which compromise the stability of a large segment of society; and which undermine the ability of the Government to perform its duties.

Disaster:

An occurrence or a series of occurrences which have transpired, causing substantial damage, and requiring the cooperation of Government Entities and individuals to facilitate Recovery from their impacts.

Executive Committee:

A sub-committee of the SCCDM, comprising representatives from the Government Entities responsible for Incident Response and management.

Establishment of the DRC

Article (2)

Pursuant to this Decree, a public corporation named the "Dubai Resilience Centre" is established. The DRC will have legal personality and the legal capacity required to undertake the acts and dispositions required for the achievement of its objectives. The DRC will be affiliated to the SCCDM.

Head Office of the DRC

Article (3)

The head office of the DRC will be located in the Emirate. The DRC may, pursuant to a resolution of the SCCDM, establish branches and offices within the Emirate.

Objectives of the DRC

Article (4)

The DRC aims to:

1.    position the Emirate at the forefront in Resilience in Incident management, thereby reinforcing its international standing;

2.    enhance the Emirate's Preparedness and capabilities in taking Preventive Measures in Response to, and Recovery and transition from Incidents;

3.    coordinate and direct joint efforts to efficiently and effectively manage Incidents; and support the SCCDM’s efforts to ensure effective implementation of the Incident management system in accordance with international best practices;

4.    serve as a reference entity that manages, and ensures the implementation of, the Resilience strategy in the Emirate; and

5.    raise public awareness of the procedures for managing Incidents, and implement the approved Resilience methodologies.

Functions of the DRC

Article (5)

The DRC is the competent official entity exclusively authorised to represent the Emirate in all matters related to Resilience and Incidents before NCEMA, the competent entities within and outside of the Emirate, and international organisations. For the purpose of achieving its objectives, the DRC will, under the supervision and guidance of the SCCDM, have the duties and powers to:

1.    prepare and develop, in coordination with the Executive Committee and the Concerned Entities in the Emirate, the Resilience plan, supporting policies, strategic plans, and general framework for Resilience in the Emirate; and submit the same to the SCCDM for approval in preparation for final approval by the Executive Council;

2.    measure performance indicators and monitor the progress achieved in the implementation of the approved plans and programmes; and submit the necessary periodic and annual reports on these plans and programmes to the SCCDM to issue the relevant directives as it deems appropriate;

3.    determine the priorities for the approved initiatives and programmes, and redistribute and implement them, in coordination with the Concerned Entities in the Emirate, in line with the prevailing circumstances of Incidents occurring in the Emirate; and submit the same to the SCCDM for approval;

4.    manage the central operations platform and establish the necessary electronic links with the Concerned Entities in the Emirate in a manner that enables the achievement of the DRC’s objectives, and to efficiently and effectively perform its assigned duties;

5.    enter into partnerships and cooperate with local, regional, and international entities specialised in areas related to the work of the DRC, as well as with the Private Sector; and coordinate with these entities on all matters related to achieving the DRC's objectives and enabling the SCCDM, the Executive Committee, and the SCCDM's sub-committees and work teams to implement their approved plans and programmes and perform their duties;

6.    collect data from the Concerned Entities and analyse it with a view to preparing studies and forecasts as a preliminary step to developing the plans and scenarios required to address Incidents and ensure effective Response. Data must be collected and analysed in accordance with the legislation in force;

7.    assess, in coordination with the Concerned Entities, the readiness of the Emirate's infrastructure and other facilities to withstand various Incidents;

8.    evaluate the Emirate's needs for resources, facilities, machinery, equipment, and other requirements necessary for managing various Incidents, ensuring the ability to respond to them effectively and efficiently;

9.    classify and evaluate Incidents; and develop Incident Preparedness, Response, management, and Recovery plans and scenarios, in coordination with the Executive Committee, the SCCDM's sub-committees and work teams, and the Concerned Entities in the Emirate;

10.  maintain a Risk and Threat Register for the Emirate, in coordination with the Executive Committee; regularly update it; and submit it to the SCCDM for approval;

11.  maintain and regularly update a register for recording the names of representatives from the entities responsible for addressing Incidents; and provide training to these representatives, including official spokespersons, coordinators, negotiators, and other officials, on addressing these Incidents;

12.  establish a unified early warning regulation for the Emirate and submit the same to the SCCDM for approval;

13.  prepare reports on the assessment of the Emirate's situation during and after Incidents; propose the necessary plans to ensure Recovery; identify lessons learned; and submit these reports to the SCCDM to issue the relevant directives as it deems appropriate;

14.  develop an operational framework for Incident management in the Emirate by preparing a detailed manual aligned with the approved Resilience framework for the Emirate. This manual must include key procedures and processes, and define the roles and responsibilities of the concerned Government Entities and the public-benefit sector during Emergencies, Crises, and Disasters;

15.  provide all forms of logistical, technical, and administrative support to the SCCDM; and submit periodic reports on the performance of the DRC to the SCCDM to give the relevant directives as it deems appropriate;

16.  review Emergency and Business Continuity plans, in coordination with Concerned Entities, and submit these plans to the SCCDM to give the relevant directives as it deems appropriate;

17.  develop drills and simulations related to Incident management, as well as the plans required for their implementation; and document the outcomes of these drills and simulations, identifying the lessons learned; and submit the same to the SCCDM for approval;

18.  propose and implement initiatives and programmes aimed at raising awareness of the importance of Incident management and Response;

19.  organise and co-organise events, symposia, conferences, training courses and programmes, and workshops related to the work of the DRC; and issue printed material and publications that contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the DRC;

20.  propose new legislation, bylaws, and regulations related to Incidents, and review existing ones, in coordination with the Concerned Entities in the Emirate;

21.  prepare and qualify UAE National cadres specialised in areas related to the work of the DRC, and coordinate in this respect with Concerned Entities within and outside of the Emirate;

22.  form volunteer teams for addressing Incidents; manage and supervise these teams; organise their work; and establish mechanisms to support the DRC and its committees and work teams, in coordination with Concerned Entities in the Emirate;

23.  purchase, take lease of, and own movable and immovable property as required for performing its duties and achieving its objectives; and

24.  exercise any other duties or powers required for the achievement of the objectives of the DRC, as assigned or delegated to it by the Executive Council or the SCCDM.

Executive Body of the DRC

Article (6)

a.    The executive body of the DRC will be comprised of the CEO and a number of technical and administrative experts and Employees.

b.    The executive body of the DRC will be responsible for performing the operational and technical work of the DRC; and for providing administrative, technical, and logistic support to the SCCDM and the DRC.

c.     The above-mentioned Law No. (8) of 2018 will apply to the Employees of the executive body of the DRC.

Appointment of the CEO

Article (7)

a.    The CEO will be appointed by a resolution of the Chairman of the Executive Council.

b.    The CEO will be directly responsible to the SCCDM for performing the duties assigned to him under this Decree, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and other legislation in force in the Emirate; as well as for performing any other duties assigned or delegated to him by the SCCDM.

Functions of the CEO

Article (8)

a.    The CEO will have the duties and powers to:

1.    propose the general policy and the strategic, development, and operational plans of the DRC, in line with the approved strategic plans of the Emirate; and submit the same to the SCCDM for approval;

2.    follow up the implementation of the approved general policy of the DRC and the resolutions and recommendations issued by the SCCDM;

3.    develop, review, analyse, and implement the operational and action plans, projects, programmes, and initiatives of the DRC and those related to its activities; prepare the relevant annual budgets in coordination with the competent entities in the Emirate; and submit the same to the SCCDM for approval;

4.    set the performance indicators and quantitative targets to be achieved; measure progress in the implementation of plans and programmes; develop improvement plans based on the achieved results in coordination with the Concerned Entities in the Emirate; and submit the relevant periodic reports to the SCCDM;

5.    draft the decisions, policies, bylaws, regulations, and resolutions governing the administrative, financial, and technical work of the DRC; and submit the same to the SCCDM for approval;

6.    prepare the draft annual budget and Financial Statements of the DRC, and submit the same to the SCCDM for approval;

7.    prepare the Organisational Structure of the DRC and submit the same to SCCDM for approval, in preparation for its final approval by the competent entities in the Emirate;

8.    approve financial transactions subject to the rules stipulated in the financial regulations and bylaws applicable to the DRC and the table of financial approval powers adopted by the SCCDM;

9.    supervise performance by the executive body of the DRC of its duties under this Decree, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and other legislation in force in the Emirate; approve the performance indicators system for the executive body of the DRC; and submit the relevant periodic reports to the SCCDM;

10.  form permanent and temporary committees and work teams to assist him in exercising his duties and powers; and determine the duties and terms of reference of these committees and work teams;

11.  represent the DRC before third parties; and conclude contracts, agreements, and memoranda of understanding with local, regional, and international entities as required for the achievement of the DRC objectives and for enabling it to exercise its duties and powers, within the powers vested in him by the SCCDM;

12.  seek assistance from experts and specialists, as he deems appropriate, to assist him in performing his assigned duties; and

13.  exercise any other duties or powers related to the achievement of the objectives of the DRC, as assigned or delegated to him by the SCCDM.

b.    The SCCDM may delegate any of its powers under paragraph (a) of this Article to the Executive Committee or the CEO, provided that this delegation is specific and in writing.

Financial Resources of the DRC

Article (9)

The financial resources of the DRC will consist of:

1.    the financial appropriations allocated to the DRC in the General Budget of the Government;

2.    the movable and immovable property allocated to the DRC by the Government; and

3.    any other resources approved by the SCCDM.

Accounts and Financial Year of the DRC

Article (10)

a.    In managing its accounts and records, the DRC will apply the rules and principles of government accounting.

b.    The Financial Year of the DRC will commence on 1 January and will end on 31 December of the same Year, except that the first Financial Year will commence as of the date this Decree comes into force and will end on 31 December of the following Year.

Cooperation with the DRC

Article (11)

All Government Entities and non-government entities in the Emirate must fully cooperate with the DRC and provide it with the required support and the data, information, documents, statistics, and studies it requests and deems necessary to enable it to exercise its duties and powers under this Decree, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and other legislation in force in the Emirate.

Issuing Implementing Resolutions

Article (12)

The Chairman of the SCCDM will issue the resolutions required for the implementation of the provisions of this Decree.

Repeals

Article (13)

Any provision in any other legislation is hereby repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Decree.

Commencement and Publication

Article (14)

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

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Ruler of Dubai

Issued in Dubai on 4 September 2024

Corresponding to 1 Rabi al-Awwal 1446 A.H.



©2025 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.