Regulating
Waste Management in the Emirate of
Dubai[1]
ــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
We, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler
of Dubai,
After perusal of:
Federal Law No. (24) of 1999 Concerning the Protection and
Development of the Environment and its amendments;
Federal Law No. (12) of 2018 Concerning Integrated Waste
Management, and its Implementing Bylaw and its amendments;
Law No. (23) of 2015 Concerning Disposition of Impounded
Vehicles in the Emirate of Dubai;
Law No. (1) of 2016 Concerning the Financial Regulations of
the Government of Dubai, its Implementing Bylaw, and their amendments;
Law No. (8) of 2016 Regulating the Grant of Law Enforcement
Capacity in the Government of Dubai and its Implementing Bylaw;
Law No. (6) of 2019 Concerning Ownership of Jointly Owned
Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai;
Law No. (5) of 2021 Concerning the Dubai International
Financial Centre;
Law No. (16) of 2023 Concerning Urban Planning in the
Emirate of Dubai;
Law No. (26) of 2023 Concerning the Executive Council of the
Emirate of Dubai;
Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and
Climate Change Authority;
Decree No. (22) of 2009 Concerning Special Development Zones
in the Emirate of Dubai;
Decree No. (45) of 2021 Concerning the Dubai Building Code;
Decree No. (34) of 2022 Establishing the Agencies Affiliated
to the Dubai Municipality and Determining their Functions;
The Order of 1961 Establishing the Dubai Municipality;
Executive Council Resolution No. (47) of 2017 Regulating the
Activities of Transportation by, and Rental of, Vehicles in the Emirate of
Dubai and its amendments;
Executive Council Resolution No. (58) of 2017 Approving the
Fees and Fines for Waste Disposal in the Emirate of Dubai;
Local Order No. (61) of 1991 Concerning Environment
Protection Systems in the Emirate of Dubai;
Local Order No. (115) of 1997 Concerning Medical Waste
Management in the Emirate of Dubai;
Local Order No. (7) of 2002 Concerning Waste Disposal Sites
in the Emirate of Dubai and its amendments;
Local Order No. (11) of 2003 Concerning Public Health and
Community Safety in the Emirate of Dubai and its amendments; and
The legislation establishing and regulating Free Zones in
the Emirate of Dubai,
Do hereby
issue this Law.
This Law will be cited as "Law No.
(18) of 2024 Regulating Waste Management in the Emirate of Dubai".
The following words and expressions, wherever
mentioned in this Law, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them
unless the context implies otherwise:
|
UAE: |
The United Arab Emirates. |
|
Emirate: |
The Emirate of Dubai. |
|
Executive Council: |
The Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai. |
|
DM: |
The Dubai Municipality. |
|
Director General: |
The director general of the DM. |
|
Concerned Entity: |
Any federal or local government entity in charge of
regulating, supervising, and monitoring the conduct of any activities or
operations related to Waste Management in the Emirate; or concerned with the
implementation of the provisions of this Law. |
|
Waste: |
All types of residues, refuse, rubbish, litter,
Hazardous Materials, or non-hazardous materials that are disposed of, requested
to be disposed of, or required to be disposed of, including Discarded Materials
or those classified as Waste by the DM or a Concerned Entity. |
|
Non-hazardous Waste: |
Waste classified as non-hazardous based on its properties,
as determined by a resolution issued by the Director General. |
|
Hazardous Waste: |
Waste classified as hazardous based on its
properties, as determined by a
resolution issued by the Director General. |
|
Waste Management: |
All activities and operations related to Waste and
its handling, from production to final Disposal. This includes, but is not
limited to, the cleaning, collection, Segregation, Sorting, transportation,
storage, import, export, handling, Reuse, Recycling, Treatment, and final
Disposal of Waste, as well as after-care of Disposal Sites. |
|
Owner: |
A Person in whose name a Building, real property,
Establishment, machine, Vehicle, or materials are
registered in his capacity as an owner or a possessor; or who has operational
control over any of the same.
|
|
Building: |
Any structure that is designated for residential
purposes or for conducting a commercial, industrial, or other activity. This
includes completed buildings and those under construction. |
|
Establishment: |
Any site in the Emirate designated for conducting
any activity of any kind. |
|
Waste Producer: |
A Person whose activity generates Waste. |
|
Waste Carrier: |
A Person authorised to conduct the activity of Waste
transportation. |
|
Disposal Site: |
A site designated or approved by the DM for the
Disposal of Waste, including a Landfill, Transfer Station, and Treatment
Plant. |
|
Landfill: |
A site designated and approved by the DM, designed,
constructed, and operated in accordance
with prescribed engineering and technical standards for the final Disposal of
Waste that cannot be segregated, sorted, treated, recycled, or reused, through
underground or above-ground burial, to minimise environmental pollution. |
|
Transfer Station: |
A station used to temporarily collect Waste before
transporting it to Disposal Sites. |
|
Landfilling Route: |
The sequence of stages through which Waste progresses
from its point of production to its final Disposal by burial in a Landfill. |
|
Treatment Plant: |
An Establishment designated for Waste Treatment,
whether by Sorting, incineration, mechanical biological Treatment,
physicochemical Treatment, or any other feasible or innovative methods. |
|
Segregation: |
The processes of separating Waste into different
types based on its components or properties, aimed at facilitating Recycling
or safe Disposal of Waste. This is typically performed at the point of Waste
generation. |
|
Sorting: |
The process of separating and classifying mixed
Waste to recover recyclable materials. |
|
Reuse: |
The use of materials segregated or recovered from
Waste without undergoing any industrial or transformative process that alters
their original functions. |
|
Recycling: |
The process of converting Waste or segregated or
sorted materials into raw materials or new products. |
|
Disposal: |
This includes the act of dumping, discarding, abandoning,
burying, destroying, injecting, Recycling, Treatment, or incineration of
Waste, or performing any operation that results in the final disposal of
Waste. |
|
Treatment: |
Any physical, mechanical, thermal, chemical, or
biological process applied to Waste to alter its properties, reduce its
volume, or minimise its hazards. |
|
Public Cleanliness: |
The set of behaviours, and preventive and procedural
measures that ensure maintaining the cleanliness of the Emirate and protecting
its Environment, as well as the operations necessary to achieve this
objective. These operations include, but are not limited to, cleaning and collecting
Waste from Public Places.
|
|
Public Place: |
A road, street, yard, pathway, pavement, beach,
creek, water canal, vacant land plot, public square, or any other place
designated by the DM as a public place for the purpose of implementing this
Law. |
|
Waste Container: |
A receptacle designated for Waste collection or
transportation. |
|
Hazardous Waste Label: |
A warning sticker affixed to a Waste Container
designated for Hazardous Waste, indicating the type of Waste and providing
essential information and instructions to ensure proper and safe handling of
the Waste, mitigate potential risks, and ensure its safe Disposal. It may
also include additional information as prescribed by the implementing bylaw
of this Law or specified by the DM pursuant to the relevant resolutions
approved by the Director General. |
This Law applies to:
1.
all areas within the Emirate,
including Special Development Zones and Free Zones, such as the Dubai
International Financial Centre; and
2.
Waste Management, including any
other Waste-related activities and operations conducted in the Emirate; and to
public and private entities, Establishments, and individuals engaged in any of
these activities and operations.
This Law aims to:
1.
encourage private sector to invest
in Waste Management;
2.
minimise the Waste generated in the
Emirate;
3.
promote sustainable resource use and
alternative energy production, and advance circular economy through Recycling;
4.
increase Recycling and Treatment
rates for the Waste generated in the Emirate, contributing to redirecting Waste
away from the Landfilling Route; and
5.
ensure environmental safety and
maintain public health and Public Cleanliness in the Emirate.
The DM is the competent entity in the Emirate
responsible for supervising and monitoring the implementation of this Law and
its provisions. For this purpose, the DM will have the duties and powers to:
1.
develop the policies, strategies,
and executive programmes required for Waste Management, including the general
policy for Waste acceptance in the Emirate;
2.
establish and approve the standards,
requirements, and specifications that a Waste Producer, Waste Carrier, and a
Treatment Plant must conform to;
3.
prepare, and regularly update, the
lists of Non-hazardous Waste and Hazardous Waste;
4.
regulate Waste Management activities
and operations in the Emirate; and supervise and monitor public and private
entities, including Free Zone authorities, Special Development Zones,
Establishments, and individuals engaged in any of Waste Management activities
and operations, in coordination with the Concerned Entities;
5.
establish and approve the standards,
requirements, and specifications for the use and Disposal of Plastic Products,
and storage and packaging materials;
6.
establish, manage, and operate Disposal
Sites in the Emirate;
7.
provide Public Cleanliness services
in the Emirate;
8.
collect Waste within the Emirate and
transport it to Disposal Sites;
9.
draft and issue Waste Management
regulations, manuals, guidelines, and circulars and ensure their effective implementation;
10. create
a comprehensive database of the Waste generated in the Emirate, including
recyclable Waste;
11. adopt
the latest Waste Management techniques, and utilise technology to analyse
Waste-related data to enhance efficiency and reduce costs;
12. conduct
scientific studies and research on Waste-related topics, and support research
and innovation in Waste Management technologies;
13. coordinate
with Government Entities and non-government entities to provide the support,
incentives, facilities, and benefits required to encourage investment in Waste
Management; propose innovative solutions for Recycling and using recycled materials;
prepare a list of the incentives, facilities, and benefits to be provided; and
submit the same to the Executive Council for approval;
14. conduct
awareness courses, symposia, and workshops for the public on Waste reduction,
Sorting, and Recycling;
15. develop
strategic partnerships with public and private entities in Waste Management;
16. cooperate
with local and federal entities, as well as international organisations, to
exchange expertise and best practices in Waste Management;
17. monitor
compliance with this Law, its implementing bylaw, and the resolutions issued in
pursuance thereof, as well as other relevant federal and local legislation; and
take the necessary actions and measures to ensure compliance; and
18. exercise
any other duties or powers related to the achievement of the objectives of this
Law, as assigned to it by the Ruler or the Chairman of the Executive Council.
No Person may dump, discard, place,
spill, discharge, or otherwise dispose of any Waste in Public Places or in
places other than those designated for this purpose. In particular, the
following is hereby prohibited:
1.
accumulating, collecting, storing,
disposing of, or discarding Waste in Buildings, Establishments, or any other
Public Place or private place in a manner that may cause harm to Public Health,
the Environment, or others; or that violates the relevant controls prescribed
by the DM;
2.
dumping in a Waste Container any
materials that may cause damage to the Waste Container or to the Waste
transport Vehicle; or pose a hazard to the health and safety of those engaged in Waste
collection, transportation, or Disposal;
3.
tampering with, rummaging through,
or scattering the contents of a Waste Container;
4.
moving or relocating a Waste Container
without first obtaining the approval of the DM;
5.
causing damage to a Waste Container
or its enclosure, or using a Waste Container for other than its designated purpose;
6.
obstructing the operations and
activities of Waste Management Establishments by parking next to a Waste Container
or blocking the entrances and exits of such Establishments, thereby hindering
their management or use;
7.
dumping, discarding, or allowing
Waste to scatter from Vehicles onto public roads;
8.
urinating, defecating, or spitting
in Public Places;
9.
discharging used Oils, Vehicle
washing water, air conditioning condensate water, or any other type of water onto
pavements or roads;
10. dumping
or disposing of Waste in seawater, creek water, ports, or on beaches;
11. disposing
of Waste by open burning;
12. abandoning
Vehicles, equipment, or machinery in a manner that negatively impacts the
general appearance; and
13. committing
any other act that may negatively affect Public Cleanliness, as determined by a
resolution issued by the Chairman of the Executive Council in this respect.
An Owner must:
1.
provide Waste Containers for the collection
of the Waste generated from his Building, in accordance with the relevant
requirements and standards adopted by the DM;
2.
provide larger Waste Containers
where the amount of Waste exceeds the capacity of existing Waste Containers, or
where the generated Waste poses a danger to public health or the Environment;
3.
provide one or more rooms within his
Building where Waste collection and storage Containers are kept in accordance
with the requirements and specifications prescribed by the Dubai Building Code.
Advanced alternative systems for Waste collection and storage may be provided
subject to the DM's approval;
4.
comply with the scheme established
by the DM for cleaning the outdoor public areas surrounding public and private
car parks that serve his Building;
5.
install temporary fences around
construction and demolition sites to prevent Waste from scattering beyond these
sites, in accordance with the relevant conditions, requirements, and
regulations adopted by the DM;
6.
dispose of Hazardous Waste or any
other Waste as determined by the DM in accordance with the requirements and
regulations it adopts in this respect; and
7.
fulfil any other obligations
determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of the Director General.
A Waste Producer must:
1.
comply with the scheme established
by the DM for organising Waste collection and transportation operations across
the Emirate;
2.
transport the Waste generated from
his activities to Disposal Sites using authorised Vehicles;
3.
actively endeavour to reduce Waste
generation in accordance with the indicators adopted by the DM and minimise the
production of non-recyclable Waste as much as possible;
4.
prepare and implement a Waste
Management plan for the activities that generate large quantities of Waste, and
have that plan approved by the DM. Activities requiring such a plan will be
determined by a resolution issued by the Director General in this respect;
5.
maintain a register for at least two
(2) years for Non-hazardous Waste and five (5) years for Hazardous Waste and
make this register available to the DM upon request. This register must detail
the type and volume of Waste generated and handled through Segregation,
Sorting, Recycling, transportation, or Disposal. The implementing bylaw of this
Law will specify the format of the register and the details to be recorded therein;
and
6.
fulfil any other obligations
determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of the Director General.
a.
No
Person may conduct any Waste Management-related activity
without first obtaining the relevant permit from the DM.
b.
Without prejudice to the provisions
of any other legislation, no Person or entity may organise any Public
Cleanliness volunteer campaign in the Emirate without first obtaining the
approval of the DM.
c.
The implementing bylaw of this Law
will specify the requirements and procedures for obtaining the permit referred
to in paragraph (a) of this Article and its validity period, as well as the format
and requirements and procedures for obtaining the approval referred to in
paragraph (b) of this Article.
a.
A
producer of Hazardous Waste must not:
1.
place
Hazardous Waste inside Waste Containers designated for Non-hazardous Waste;
2.
store or treat Hazardous Waste
without first obtaining the relevant permit from the DM;
3.
mix Hazardous Waste that does not
share the same specifications and characteristics;
4.
deliver Hazardous Waste to a Waste
Carrier or any Person not authorised to handle it;
5.
use a Waste Container that does not conform
to the required specifications for Hazardous Waste or that does not bear a
Hazardous Waste Label. The implementing bylaw of this Law will determine the
specifications of Hazardous Waste Containers and the details of the Hazardous
Waste Label;
6.
fail to implement the systems and schemes
established by the DM for on-site Waste Treatment to reduce its quantity or minimise
its hazard level;
7.
violate the resolutions,
instructions, and circulars issued by the DM in respect of Hazardous Waste
management; and
8.
engage in any other prohibited act as
determined by the DM pursuant to the resolutions issued by the Director General
in this respect.
b.
The
types and categories of materials and products classified as Hazardous Waste
will be determined by the relevant resolution of the Director General. This
resolution will be published on the DM's official website and will be subject
to periodic review and update as needed.
The types and categories of materials
and products classified as Non-hazardous Waste will be determined by the
relevant resolution of the Director General. This resolution will be published
on the DM's official website and will be subject to periodic review and update
as needed.
Without prejudice to the functions of
the Concerned Entities, the DM will, in coordination with the entities in
charge of licensing Vehicles, establish the requirements
and specifications that the Vehicles used for transporting Waste must conform
to, based on the type and level of hazard of the Waste authorised for transport.
A Waste Carrier must:
1.
transport Waste using Vehicles
authorised for the type of Waste being transported;
2.
refrain from transporting Hazardous
Waste or any materials or Waste not authorised for Disposal. Materials and
Waste authorised to be transported for Disposal will be determined by the
relevant resolution of the Director General. This resolution will be published
on the DM's official website and will be subject to periodic review and update
as needed;
3.
affix warning signs to the sides and
rear of the Vehicles transporting Hazardous Waste, clearly indicating the type
of Waste being transported;
4.
ensure that a Hazardous Waste Label
is affixed to Hazardous Waste Containers or transported packages;
5.
ensure that the driver of the
Vehicle transporting Hazardous Waste is qualified for Hazardous Waste
transportation;
6.
cover Waste Containers and open
Vehicles during transportation;
7.
maintain the aesthetic appearance and
general cleanliness of the Vehicles transporting Waste;
8.
adhere to the public health and
safety procedures approved by the DM while loading, transporting, and unloading
Waste;
9.
install a tracking system approved
by the Concerned Entities on the Vehicles transporting Waste that is compatible
with the Vehicle monitoring systems adopted by the DM;
10. not
tamper with any devices, systems, or chips prescribed by the DM for Waste
transport Vehicles; and
11. meet
any other obligations determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of the
Director General.
a.
No
Person may use, or permit others to use, any land plot,
Building, or Establishment as a Disposal Site without first obtaining the
relevant permit from the DM.
b.
No Person may undertake Waste
Treatment at any site within the Emirate other than those designated by the DM
for this purpose.
c.
The DM may require any Waste
transport Vehicle to proceed to a particular Sorting station or Treatment Plant
based on the type and nature of the Waste being transported.
d.
The implementing bylaw of this Law
will determine the requirements and specifications for obtaining the permit referred
to in paragraph (a) of this Article and the entity within the DM responsible
for issuing such a permit.
No Person may undertake any of the following acts
at Disposal Sites of the DM:
1.
accessing the DM Disposal Sites
without first obtaining a relevant permit from the DM;
2.
bringing in or removing Waste from
the DM Disposal Sites without first obtaining a relevant permit from the DM;
3.
tampering with equipment, machinery,
or other assets at the DM Disposal Sites, or assaulting their employees and
workers;
4.
violating the instructions and
bylaws regulating DM Disposal Sites entry and exit;
5.
violating the work instructions
applicable at the DM Disposal Sites;
6.
committing any act that may lead to
the spread of epidemics or infectious diseases, adversely affect human health
and safety or the Environment, or disrupt operations at the DM Disposal Sites;
or
7.
committing any other prohibited act as
determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of the Director General.
The DM will take the necessary measures to reduce the
amount of Waste generated in the Emirate, increase the rates of redirecting
Waste from the Landfilling Route, and support investment in material recovery,
reuse, and Recycling. For this purpose, the DM will have the authority to:
1.
require Waste Producers to implement
systems for Waste Segregation, Sorting, or Recycling, and to reuse recovered
materials either within or outside the Waste production site;
2.
require Establishments to accept
specific types of Waste for use as raw materials in their products or as
alternative fuel in furnaces; or to use fuel generated from Waste;
3.
require entities to use materials produced
from Waste Treatment and Recycling in their projects and activities, in
accordance with the specifications, conditions, and ratios specified in the
implementing bylaw of this Law; and
4.
take any other measures prescribed
by the DM pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the Director General.
No person may import Waste or recyclable
materials into, or export them from, the Emirate without first obtaining an
authorisation from the DM. This authorisation will be issued in accordance with
the requirements and rules determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of
the Director General.
No person may import Waste into the
Emirate for the purpose of final Disposal. However, Waste may be imported into the Emirate upon obtaining
an authorisation from the DM for the following purposes:
1.
to ensure the uninterrupted
operation of Treatment Plants, to the extent necessary for this purpose;
2.
to use Waste as alternative fuel or
as raw materials in factories, provided that it does not cause harm to the environment
or result in Waste being redirected to Landfills; and
3.
to achieve any other purpose as determined
pursuant to the relevant resolution of the Director General.
Under no circumstances will the DM or
its employees incur any liability as a result of exercising their duties and
powers under this Law, its implementing bylaw, and
the resolutions issued in pursuance thereof.
a.
Without prejudice to any stricter
penalty stipulated in any other legislation, a Person who violates the
provisions of this Law, its implementing bylaw, or the resolutions issued in
pursuance thereof will be punished by a fine of no more than five hundred
thousand dirhams (AED 500,000.00).
b.
Upon repetition of the same
violation within one (1) year from the date of the previous violation, the
amount of the fine imposed on the violator will be doubled. A fine must not
exceed the amount prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Article.
c.
The Chairman of the Executive
Council will determine, pursuant to a resolution issued by him in this regard,
the prohibited acts and the fines to be imposed on their perpetrators.
In addition to the penalty of a fine
prescribed under Article (20) of this Law, the DM may, in coordination with the
Concerned Entities, take one or more of the following
measures against a violator:
1.
issuing a warning;
2.
suspending the violating works and
activities;
3.
suspending licences or permits for a
period not exceeding six (6) months;
4.
suspending the operations of the
violating Establishment for a period not exceeding three (3) months or
permanently closing it;
5.
revoking licences or permits, as the
case may be;
6.
impounding the Vehicles that are not
compliant with the technical requirements and rules prescribed by this Law, its
implementing bylaw, and the resolutions issued in pursuance thereof, until compliance
is achieved;
7.
deporting the driver of the non-compliant
Vehicle from the UAE;
8.
disconnecting water and electricity
services to the violating Building or Establishment for a period not exceeding
three (3) months; and/or
9.
taking any other administrative
measures prescribed by the legislation in force in the Emirate.
The DM employees and other community
members 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 Law, its implementing bylaw, and the
resolutions issued in pursuance thereof. For this purpose, they may issue the
necessary violation reports; and, where necessary, seek the assistance of
police personnel.
In addition to the administrative
penalties and measures prescribed in this Law, its implementing bylaw, and the
resolutions issued in pursuance thereof, a violator must
remedy the violation, redress any resulting damages, and restore the situation
to its original state at his own expense within the time frame prescribed by
the DM. Should the violator fail to remedy the violation, the DM may, by using
its own resources or engaging third parties, remedy the violation at the
violator's expense; and charge the violator twenty-five percent (25%) of the
relevant costs and expenses as administrative fees. The DM will estimate these
costs, and its estimation will be deemed final.
Any affected party may submit a written
grievance to the Director General against the decisions, procedures, and
measures taken against him in accordance with the provisions of this Law, its
implementing bylaw, and the resolutions issued in pursuance thereof, within ten
(10) days from the date of being notified of the contested decision, procedure, or
measure. The grievance will be determined, within thirty (30) days of its
submission, by a committee formed by the Director General for this purpose; and
the decision issued by the committee on the grievance will be final.
All Government Entities and
non-government entities in the Emirate must fully cooperate with the DM to
enable it to perform its functions under this Law, its
implementing bylaw, and the resolutions issued in pursuance thereof. These
entities must, upon request, provide the DM with all forms of support.
In return for issuing permits and approvals, and
providing services under this Law, its implementing bylaw, and the resolutions
issued in pursuance thereof, the DM will collect the fees prescribed by the
relevant resolution of the Chairman of the Executive Council.
Fees, fines, expenses, and costs
collected pursuant to this Law, its implementing bylaw,
and the resolutions issued in pursuance thereof will be paid to the Public
Treasury of the Government of Dubai.
The DM may, in accordance with the legislation in
force, outsource any of its duties and powers under this Law, its implementing
bylaw, and the resolutions issued in pursuance thereof to any public or private
entity pursuant to an agreement concluded for this purpose. This agreement will
state its term and the rights and obligations of both parties.
With the exception of the resolutions
which the Chairman of the Executive Council is exclusively authorised to issue
under this Law, the Director General will issue the implementing bylaw,
resolutions, manuals, guidelines, and bylaws required for the implementation of
this Law.
a.
The
above-mentioned Local Order No. (115) of 1997 and Local
Order No. (7) of 2002 are hereby repealed. Any provision in any other legislation
is also hereby repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of
this Law.
b.
The bylaws, resolutions, and manuals
issued in implementation of the local orders mentioned in paragraph (a) of this
Article will continue in force, to the extent that they do not contradict this
Law, until new superseding bylaws, resolutions, and manuals are issued.
This Law will be published in the Official Gazette and
will come into force thirty (30) days after the day on which it is published.
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.