Legislation Details
- Full Title: Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work
- Law Type: Federal Law
- Law Number: No. (70) of 2020
- Issued Date: 27 Oct 2020
- Effective Date: 29 Oct 2020
- Official Gazette: No. 688
- Sector: Family and Community
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 54
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Cabinet Resolution establishes the executive regulations for Federal Law No. (13) of 2018 Concerning Volunteer Work. It sets out the controls, requirements, and procedures for individuals and organizations to engage in volunteer activities in the UAE. The law aims to promote and regulate the volunteer sector, ensuring volunteer work is carried out in a manner that benefits the community without compromising security, safety, or public order. The legislation is significant for businesses, non-profits, and individuals interested in volunteering, as it provides a clear legal framework for their participation. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 1-25)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The law applies to all volunteer work carried out in the UAE, whether by individuals, legal entities, or visitors. It regulates the registration, licensing, and conduct of volunteer activities to ensure they achieve community benefit without causing harm. The law empowers the Ministry of Community Development and local competent authorities to oversee and enforce the regulations. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 1-2)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- Volunteer Work: Any individual or collective activity carried out with the intention to achieve a benefit for others in return for no financial or job compensation.
- Volunteer: Every registered natural or legal person that carries out voluntary work without in return for no financial or job compensation.
- Volunteer Team: A group of registered natural or legal persons forming one team to perform voluntary work in return for no financial or job compensation.
- Natural-Person Volunteer: Every society member who engages in voluntary work of his/her free will in return for no financial or job compensation.
- Legal-Person Volunteer: Every government or private institution, association, or public benefit organization that is registered or licensed in the UAE and carries out voluntary work through human, financial, or in-kind resources thereof.
- Visitor Volunteer: Everyone who enters the UAE's territory under a visitor's or tourist's visa and desires to carry out voluntary work of his/her own free will in return for no financial or job compensation.
(Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law imposes several key obligations on those carrying out volunteer work in the UAE: 1. The volunteer work must achieve community benefit. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 2(1)) 2. The volunteer work must not compromise UAE society's security and safety. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 2(2)) 3. The volunteer work must not cause harm to others, the environment, properties, or privacy rights. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 2(3)) 4. The volunteer work must be licensed by the Ministry of Community Development or the competent local authority. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 2(5)) 5. Volunteers must avoid conflicts of interest or personal benefits. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 2(6))
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The law requires both individual volunteers and volunteer teams to register with the Ministry of Community Development or the competent local authority. For individual volunteers, this involves creating an account on the National Volunteering Platform, satisfying the requirements for volunteer work, and accepting the Volunteer Work Charter. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 3(1)(a)) For volunteer teams, the team leader or a delegate must submit a license application to the relevant authority, accompanied by the team's bylaws, copies of founding members' IDs, and a member list. The authority must decide on the application within 30 business days. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 11-12)
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The law does not explicitly outline any specific rights or protections granted to volunteers. It focuses primarily on the obligations, requirements, and procedures for carrying out volunteer work in the UAE. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020)
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The Ministry of Community Development and local competent authorities are responsible for enforcing and overseeing the implementation of this law. Their key roles include: - Registering volunteers and volunteer opportunities - Approving and licensing volunteer teams - Providing training, technical advice, and sponsorship to volunteer teams - Supervising and controlling the activities of volunteer teams - Receiving and reviewing reports from volunteer teams (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 3, 16-17)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law does not specify any penalties for non-compliance. It states that in case of any violations, "the penalties set forth in the Law shall be imposed based on severity and nature of the violation." However, the source text does not provide details on the actual penalties. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 14)
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The law does not mention any fees, charges, or other financial provisions related to volunteer work. It only states that volunteer teams may collect donations or sponsorships after obtaining approval from the Ministry, and that they must refund any unused sponsorships within 15 days. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 18)
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The law does not provide any explicit exemptions or exceptions. It applies to all volunteer work carried out in the UAE, whether by individuals, legal entities, or visitors. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020)
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The law establishes a grievance mechanism for volunteer teams. If a team's license application is rejected, they can file a grievance with the Ministry or competent authority within 15 days. The grievance must be decided on within 15 business days, and the decision made by the Minister or Head of the authority is final. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 13)
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The law specifies the following key deadlines and time limits: - The Ministry or competent authority must decide on a volunteer team's license application within 30 business days. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 12) - A grievance against a license application rejection must be filed within 15 days of receiving the rejection decision. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 13) - If a volunteer team's sponsorship application is approved but the full required sponsorship is not obtained, the team must refund any received sponsorships within 15 days. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Art. 18(2)(e))
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
This Cabinet Resolution is issued to provide the executive regulations for Federal Law No. (13) of 2018 Concerning Volunteer Work. It does not mention any other specific UAE laws that it amends or repeals. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
This Cabinet Resolution came into effect on 29 October 2020, two days after its issuance on 27 October 2020. It was published in the Official Gazette No. 688. (Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work, 2020, Issued Date, Effective Date)
Source Documents
This article analyses Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law Concerning Volunteer Work for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.