Law No. (24) of 2021

Amending Law No. (3) of 2015

Establishing the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) [1]

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

After perusal of:

Law No. (3) of 2015 Establishing the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) (the “Original Law”);

Decree No. (1) of 1992 Establishing the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and its amendments; and

Decree No. (9) of 2015 Regulating the Raising of Donations in the Emirate of Dubai,

Do hereby issue this Law.

Superseded Articles

Article (1)

Articles (2), (6), and (7) of the Original Law are hereby superseded by the following:

Definitions

Article (2)

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.

Ruler:

His Highness the Ruler of Dubai.

Government:

The Government of Dubai.

DEWA:

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

Suqia:

The UAE Water Aid Foundation.

Board of Trustees:

The board of trustees of Suqia.

Chairman:

The chairman of the Board of Trustees.

CEO:

The chief executive officer of Suqia.

Renewable Energy:

The energy derived from non-depletable natural resources that are constantly replenished, such as wind energy, hydro energy, and solar energy.

Clean Energy:

The energy whose production or use does not cause environmental pollution.

Functions of Suqia

Article (6)

For the purpose of achieving its objectives, Suqia will have the duties and powers to:

1.     contribute to financing and supporting all phases of clean water supply projects; the projects and initiatives that contribute to controlling unclean water related diseases; and the projects related to fresh water systems;

2.     support the efforts exerted to supply water through sustainable solutions, including the use of Renewable Energy and Clean Energy;

3.     promote social responsibility among public and private entities within and outside of the Emirate, encourage them to be creative and innovative, and support the initiatives that contribute to providing clean potable water for those who need it around the world;

4.     recognise, through the awards it sponsors, participants in the initiatives, research, and projects related to potable water; to the control of unclean water related diseases; and to the development of systems and technologies for producing water using Renewable Energy and Clean Energy;

5.     build and enhance partnerships with international, regional, local, and community-based organisations and other entities which share common objectives in the field of combating and reducing water scarcity and shortage;

6.     raise funds and Donations within and outside of the Emirate to implement water-related projects and conduct research and studies on providing clean water. These funds and Donations must be raised in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate, and in coordination with the concerned entities;

7.     invest the property of Suqia to help achieve its objectives;

8.     contribute to establishing companies or undertake joint investments and ventures within and outside of the UAE;

9.     form permanent and temporary committees and work teams, and determine their functions and terms of reference; and

10.  exercise any other duties or powers required for the achievement of the objectives of Suqia, as assigned to it by the Ruler.

Research Centres

Article (7)

To effectively and efficiently perform its functions, Suqia may establish research centres to:

1.     conduct studies and research and issue reports and bulletins on the latest practices and techniques to address water scarcity; support the efforts aimed at producing clean and potable water using Renewable Energy and Clean Energy; and control unclean water related diseases;

2.     contribute to conducting research and field experiments to verify the viability of the technologies used to produce water through sustainable solutions, including the use of Renewable Energy and Clean Energy;

3.     coordinate with specialised international, educational, and academic entities and institutions by entering into the relevant partnerships and agreements with them;

4.     participate in organising and sponsoring scientific conferences held by  institutions specialised in water-related scientific research within and outside of the UAE; and

5.     perform any other duties that are assigned to Suqia by the CEO and that enable it to exercise its functions.

Commencement and Publication

Article (2)

This Law 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 18 November 2021

Corresponding to 13 Rabi al-Thani 1443 A.H.

 



©2022 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.