Law No. 12 concerning the Establishment of the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities

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  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Language: English
  • Document Type: Domestic Law or Regulation
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Status: Law in force
DUBAI LAW No. 12 of 2005
Gazette No. 306
Dubai Government Official Gazette
Law No. 12 of 2005 on the Establishment of Islamic Affairs and Charity Works Department
REPEALED.
Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities [Dubai Law 12 of 2005] AS AMENDED
[REPEALED] Law No. (12) of 2005 Concerning the Establishment of the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable
Activities
We, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai,
Having reviewed:
Law No. (7) of 1994 regarding the Endowments and Islamic Affairs;
Law No. (5) of 2002 regulating the Council of Religious and Charitable Activities;
Law No. (6) of 2004 concerning the Establishment of the Foundation of Endowments and Minors’ Affairs,
Decree as follows:
Article (1)
This law shall be named ” Law No. (12) of 2005 Establishing the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable
Activities “.
Article (2)
Unless otherwise required by the context, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned
thereto respectively:
Country : The United Arab Emirates
Ruler : His Highness the Ruler of Dubai
Emirate : Emirate of Dubai
Department : The Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities
Director : Department Director
Charity : Any group of individuals concerned with the religious or charitable affairs and exercising its activities
in the Emirate including religious societies and charities established under the provisions of the law.
Article (2)
Unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings
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respectively assigned next thereto:
State : The United Arab Emirates.
Ruler : His Highness the Ruler of Dubai.
Emirate : Emirate of Dubai.
Department : Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department.
Director : Director General of the Department.
Charitable Societies : Any group of persons concerned with religious or charitable affairs and practices its
activities in the Emirate, including religious or charitable societies established in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
Article (3)
A department named “the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities” shall be established under
this law.
Article (4)
The Department shall be in charge of the following:
1- To formulate the general policy of the Department.
2- To spread the Islamic culture and develop religious awareness.
3- To supervise the process of printing and distribution of the Holy Quran, books, as well as audio and videos
tapes.
4- To establish and supervise Quran memorization schools.
5- To look after and supervise the mosques to dully fulfill their purpose in coordination with the Foundation of
Endowments and Minors’ Affairs.
6- To supervise the construction of mosques to be built by individuals in coordination with Dubai Municipality
and the Foundation of Endowments and Minors’ Affairs.
7- To supervise the religious celebrations, seminars, conferences and competitions.
8- To supervise charities from the administrative, financial and cultural perspectives and approve their
programs.
9- To supervise Islamic research centers and religious material particularly those published and broadcast
through the audio, video and read media.
10- To regulate the pilgrimage affairs in collaboration with the competent authorities in the Country.
11- To protect, revive and spread the Islamic heritage.
12- To give religious opinions (“fatwas”) on the legal issues referred thereto.
13- To issue work permits to preachers, imams, preachers, teachers and mosque callers as per the regulations
issued by the Director in this regard.
Article (4)
The Department shall have the following powers and authorities:
1 to lay down the Department’s general policy;
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2 to propagate the Islamic culture and promote religious awareness;
3 to supervise the printing of the Holy Quran, religious books and visual and audio recordings;
4 to establish and oversee Holy Quran Memorizing Schools;
5 to care for mosques and supervise their management for proper functioning in coordination with Awqaf and
Minors Affairs Foundation;
6 to supervise the construction of mosques built by individuals in coordination with Dubai Municipality and
Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation;
7 to supervise events, symposia, conferences, and religious competitions;
8 to supervise charitable centres and societies administratively, financially, and culturally as well as approve its
own programs;
9 to supervise research and Islamic studies centres and religious programs, particularly those propagated and
broadcasted through audio, electronic and visual media;
10 to highlight the gracefulness of Islam and emphasize that Islam is appropriate for all times and places;
11 to revive the Islamic heritage by collecting, investigating and studying what would be fitting for Muslim
daily life requirements and also find solutions for their problems;
12 to translate works relating to Muslim issues;
13 to organize Hajj affairs in coordination with the concerned authorities in the State;
14 to preserve, revive and spread the Islamic culture;
15 to work on the Fatwa in all juristic matters referred thereto;
16 to grant licenses for all imams, preachers, lecturers, teachers and mosque callers according to the regulations
issued by the Director in this regard; and
17 to publish a magazine containing Islam’s message and use all mass media to spread the message of that
magazine.
Article (5)
The Department shall have a director to be appointed upon a decree by the Ruler. The Director shall be in
charge of carrying out the general policy and the proper performance of the Department duties, and shall:
1- Supervise the implementation of the regulations related to the Department and its employees.
2- Supervise the Department employees to ensure the proper performance of the work.
3- Supervise the spending of funds as per the approved budget.
4- Prepare regulations and submit thereof to the Executive Council for approval.
5- Prepare the draft annual budget and the closing account and submit thereof to the Executive Council for
approval.
Article (6)
The Department shall have an organization structure as per a resolution of the Executive Council which shall
appoint the management team of the Department under the provisions of this law.
Article (7)
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The Department shall regulate its accounts and registers as applicable in the Government. Such accounts and
registers shall be subject to audit by the Audit Department.
Article (8)
(1) The charities exercising the following activities in the Emirate shall be subject to the supervision of the
Department:
1- religious activities and charities.
2- collecting cash and in-kind donations for disposal on humanitarian aid, care of orphans, construction of
mosques and other forms of aid.
(2) The Director shall issue the internal regulations of the charities activities and the rules of issuing and
withdrawing licenses.
Article (9)
The employees of the Charity and Religious Activities Council shall be transferred to the Department without
prejudice to their financial rights.
Article (10)
The Department shall be exempted from any taxes or duties resulting from its transactions including the custom
duties on its necessary imports including books, scientific references, newspapers, magazines, etc. required to
achieve the Department purposes.
Article (11)
Any provision in contravention of the provisions of this law shall be repealed.
Article (12)
Law No. (7) of 1994 regarding the Endowments and Islamic Affairs and Law No. (5) of 2002 regulating the
Council of Religious and Charitable Activities shall be repealed.
Article (13)
This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall be effective one month after the date of publishing
thereof.
[Signed] Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
The Ruler of Dubai
Issued in Dubai
7 June 2005
30 Rabea Al-Akher 1426 AH
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