Law No. (7) of 2018
Establishing
Watani Al Emarat Foundation[1]
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We, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai,
After perusal of:
Law No. (3) of 2003 Establishing the Executive Council of the
Emirate of Dubai; and
Law No. (1) of 2016 Concerning the Financial Regulations of the
Government of Dubai,
Do hereby issue this Law.
This Law will be cited as “Law No. (7) of
2018 Establishing Watani Al Emarat Foundation”.
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. |
|
Executive Council: |
The Executive
Council of the Emirate of Dubai. |
|
Foundation: |
Watani Al Emarat
Foundation established pursuant to this Law. |
|
Board of Directors: |
The board of
directors of the Foundation. |
|
Executive Director: |
The executive
director of the Foundation. |
Pursuant to this Law, a public-benefit
foundation named “Watani Al Emarat” is established. The Foundation will have
legal personality and the legal capacity required to undertake the acts and
dispositions that ensure the achievement of its objectives.
The head office of the Foundation will be
located in the city of Dubai. The Foundation may establish branches and offices
within and outside of the Emirate pursuant to a resolution of the Board of
Directors.
The Foundation will have the following
objectives:
1. to contribute to
preserving the UAE national identity and reinforce the sense of this identity
among children and the youth; and promote the sense of national belonging and
allegiance, and the values of good citizenship, among all segments
of the society and
various establishments;
2. to raise the awareness of future generations on the
positive UAE social values in order for them to internalise these positive
values at the emotional level and translate them into action;
3. to contribute to the
dissemination of the cultural, social, and religious heritage; the customs; and the traditions of the UAE
society;
4. to support the UAE
development plans by considering and exploring public issues, and key social indicators and values;
5. to support and
promote volunteer work, community engagement, and social responsibility among
individuals and establishments in the UAE with a view to adopting international best practices and achieving the
internationally targeted outcomes in this respect;
6. to contribute to
promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue in line with the culture,
values, and principles of the society; the teachings of Islam as the religion
of moderation and tolerance; and the social integration principles; and
7. to contribute to
promoting the engagement
of the UAE youth in all fields, and to support UAE national cadres in order to form knowledge- and
science-based UAE communities.
For the purpose of achieving its
objectives, the Foundation will have the duties and powers to:
1. coordinate with the
concerned entities to prepare comprehensive strategic plans related to the UAE
national identity, good citizenship,
and the promotion of political engagement;
2. invest in the youth
by encouraging them to attend and participate in the events and programmes of
the Foundation;
3. plan, organise, and conduct religious, cultural, social, and
political activities, events, exhibitions, services, and programmes for all
members of the community in fields that are relevant to the achievement of the
objectives of the Foundation;
4. enhance UAE social
and behavioural values by participating in the development of educational curricula and activities; and hold educational,
cultural, and art activities, events, and lectures, in coordination with the
concerned entities;
5. support community
volunteer initiatives by coordinating with the concerned entities within and
outside of the UAE;
6. study social issues
that affect the UAE national identity and good citizenship;
7. establish
cooperation, communication, and partnership relations and channels with the establishments and entities of the local, gulf, Arab,
and international communities;
8. perform all the transactions and work related to its
activities and required for the achievement of its objectives, including
engaging in commercial activities;
9. establish companies
and investment projects, solely or with
other persons; and enter into partnerships with, hold shares in, merge with, or
acquire shares or stocks in companies and entities engaged in the same or
similar activities as those of the Foundation or in activities which help the
Foundation achieve its objectives within and outside of the UAE;
10. own movable and
immovable property, and hold
material and moral rights, as required for the achievement of its objectives; and
11. exercise any other
duties or powers required for the achievement of the objectives of the
Foundation.
The Foundation will have a Board of
Directors comprised of a chairman, vice chairman, and a number of members known
for their integrity, expertise, and competence. The Board of Directors will be
comprised of at least five (5) members, including the chairman and vice chairman. Members of the Board of
Directors will be appointed pursuant to a decree of the Ruler for a renewable period of three (3) years.
a. The Board of
Directors will convene at the invitation of its chairman, or the vice chairman in his absence, at least
once every three (3) months or where necessary. Meetings of the Board of
Directors will be valid if attended by the majority of its members, provided
that the chairman or vice chairman is in attendance.
b. Resolutions and
recommendations of the Board of Directors will be passed by majority vote of
attending members; and in the event of
a tie, the chair of the meeting will have a casting vote. Resolutions of the
Board of Directors will be recorded in minutes signed by the chair of the meeting and the rapporteur of the Board of Directors.
c. A rapporteur will be
appointed to the Board of Directors by its chairman. The rapporteur will be responsible
for sending meeting invitations to the members of the Board of Directors,
preparing its meeting agendas,
recording its minutes of meetings,
following up the implementation of its resolutions and recommendations, and performing any other duties
assigned to him by the chairman of the Board of Directors.
a. The Board of
Directors will undertake general supervision of the work of the Foundation and ensure that it performs the functions assigned to it under this Law and the resolutions
issued in pursuance hereof. In particular, the Board of Directors will have the
duties and powers to:
1. approve, and follow up the implementation of, the general policy and the strategic, development, and operational
plans of the Foundation;
2. approve the draft
annual budget and Financial
Statements of the Foundation, and submit the same to the competent entities
in the Emirate for final approval;
3. approve the
organisational structure of the Foundation;
4. approve the
projects, programmes, and initiatives of the Foundation;
5. approve the
resolutions, bylaws, and regulations governing the administrative, financial,
and technical work of the Foundation, including the human resources regulations
of the Foundation;
6. propose the
legislation required to
enable the
Foundation to achieve its objectives;
7. appoint consultants and specialists in the areas related to the activities
of the Foundation and determine their remuneration;
8. appoint auditors and
determine their remuneration at the beginning of each Financial Year;
9. approve the fees and charges for the services provided by
the Foundation, and submit the same to the competent entities in the Emirate
for final approval;
10. approve the annual
report of the Foundation;
11. approve partnership projects with public and private entities, and
attract sponsors to fund the programmes, initiatives, and projects implemented
by the Foundation;
12. supervise and follow
up the performance by the
executive body of the functions assigned to the Foundation under this Law and
the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof;
13. form permanent and
temporary sub-committees and work teams, and determine their functions and
terms of reference;
14. seek assistance, as
it deems appropriate, from experts and specialists from within or outside of
the Emirate to enable it to perform its duties. However, these experts and
specialists will not have the right
to vote in the deliberations of the Board of Directors; and
15. exercise any other
duties or powers required for the achievement of the objectives of the Foundation.
b. Except for the
powers vested in it under sub-paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this Article, the Board of Directors may
delegate any of its powers under paragraph (a) of this Article to any of its
members or to the Executive Director, provided that such delegation is specific
and in writing.
a. The Foundation will
have an executive body comprised of the Executive Director and a number of
administrative, finance, and technical employees.
b. The executive body
will be responsible for the operational work of the Foundation, and for
following up the implementation of the resolutions passed by the Board of
Directors.
c. The relevant human
resources regulations
approved by the Board of Directors will apply to the employees of the
Foundation.
a. The Executive
Director will be appointed by a resolution of the Board of Directors.
b. The Executive
Director will be responsible to the Board of
Directors for performing the duties assigned to him under this Law, the
resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and the regulations and bylaws adopted by the
Foundation.
c. The Executive
Director will have the duties and powers to:
1. propose the general
policy and the strategic,
development, and operational plans of the Foundation; and submit the same to
the Board of Directors for approval;
2. implement the
general policy and
the strategic and
operational plans of the Foundation, and the resolutions passed by the Board of
Directors;
3. propose the draft
annual budget and Financial
Statements of the Foundation, and submit the same to the Board of Directors
for approval;
4. propose the
organisational structure of the Foundation, and submit the same to the Board of
Directors for approval;
5. propose the
resolution, bylaws, and regulations governing the
administrative, financial, and technical work of the Foundation, including the human resources regulations; and
submit the same to Board of Directors for approval;
6. supervise the daily
work of the executive body of the Foundation;
7. propose the
projects, programmes, and initiatives of the Foundation, submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval, and follow up their implementation;
8. prepare the annual
report on the achievements and activities of the Foundation; and submit the
same to the Board of Directors for approval;
9. represent the
Foundation before third parties; and conclude contracts and agreements required
for the achievement of the objectives of the Foundation;
10. achieve the
performance outcomes required from the executive body of the Foundation; and
submit performance reports to the Board of Directors;
11. propose fees and
charges for the services provided by the Foundation; and submit the same to the
Board of Directors for approval; and
12. exercise any other
duties or powers assigned or delegated to him by Board of Directors.
The financial resources of the Foundation
will consist of:
1. movable and
immovable assets allocated to the Foundation by the Government of Dubai;
2. fees and charges for
the services provided by
the Foundation;
3. revenues generated
from endowments, grants, and gifts;
4. any other resources
secured by the Foundation through conducting its activities; and
5. any other resources
approved by the Board of Directors.
a. In managing its accounts and records, the Foundation will
apply the accounting rules and principles approved by the Board of Directors.
b. The Financial Year of the Foundation will commence on 1
January and will end on 31 December of each year, except that the first Financial Year will commence on the date this Law comes
into force and will end on 31 December of the following year.
a. As of the effective
date of this Law, all rights, assets, obligations, responsibilities, and powers
of the Watani Programme
will be transferred to the Foundation.
b. The employees of the
Watani Programme will also be transferred to the Foundation as of the effective
date of this Law,
and will retain their existing rights.
With the exception of the resolutions which the Board of
Directors is authorised to issue under this Law, the Chairman of the Executive Council
will issue the resolutions required for the implementation of this Law.
Any provision in any other legislation
will be repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Law.
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 26
May 2018
Corresponding to 10 Ramadan 1439 A.H.
©2020
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.