Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Law Concerning Sports
- Law Type: Federal Law
- Law Number: [no number] of 2023
- Issued Date: 24 May 2023
- Effective Date: 01 Jun 2023
- Official Gazette: No. 752
- Sector: Sport
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 125
- Chapters/Parts: 8
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Federal Law regulates the sports sector in the United Arab Emirates, aiming to develop sports organizations, integrate sports goals at the federal and local levels, and promote public-private partnership in the sports industry. It covers a wide range of sports-related areas, including physical education, sports facilities, talent discovery, elite sports, sports entities, and sports professionalism. The law establishes key national sports organizations and empowers the General Authority of Sports to oversee and regulate the sector. It also imposes various obligations on sports entities and introduces penalties for non-compliance. (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023) The law is significant for businesses, athletes, and individuals involved in the UAE's sports ecosystem. It provides a comprehensive legal framework to govern sports activities, enhance sports development, and professionalize the industry. The practical impact includes clearer rules for sports entities, increased investment opportunities, better talent nurturing, and improved sports infrastructure and participation across the country. (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The scope of this Federal Law covers all sports organizations and entities, as well as all fields of sports activity in the United Arab Emirates, including the free zones. (Art. 2) The law aims to achieve several objectives, including developing work systems and performance of sports organizations, unifying and integrating sports development goals, building a distinguished sports community, encouraging private sector investment, governing the sports sector within national and international frameworks, supporting sports organizations in achieving their goals, and encouraging sports participation across various demographics. (Art. 3) (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023, Art. 2-3)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- State: United Arab Emirates
- Authority: General Authority of Sports
- Chairman: Chairman of the General Authority of Sports
- Competent Authorities: Any local authority concerned with licensing, regulating, supervising and controlling sports entities and activities
- Sports Entities: Any non-governmental sports entity registered by the Authority or licensed by the competent entities
- Registered Sports Entities: Sports entities registered under a decision issued by the Authority
- Sports Federation: A sports entity registered by the Authority, responsible for managing one or more sports activities
- Sports Clubs: A sports entity registered by the Authority, dedicated to practicing one or more sports and affiliated with a recognized Sports Federation
- Sports Association: A sports entity established by sports federations and registered by the Authority
- Sports Institutions: Any for-profit sports entity licensed by the competent authorities
- Sports Companies: Commercial companies established by sports clubs, federations or the private sector
- Professional Sports Career: Practicing sports activities under a contract for material return
- National Sports Organizations: Independent, non-governmental, non-profit sports organizations
- National Olympic Committee: The independent, elected national sports organization for the Olympic movement
- National Paralympic Committee: The independent, elected national sports organization for Paralympic sports
- UAE Special Olympics: The independent, elected national sports organization for sports for persons with intellectual disabilities
- The UAE Committee for People with Hearing Disabilities: The independent, elected national sports organization for sports for people with hearing disabilities
- National Anti-Doping Agency: The national sports organization for anti-doping policies and procedures
- Elite sport: Sports practice targeting the highest levels of competitiveness
(Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law imposes several key obligations: 1. Federal and local government authorities must guarantee the right to practice physical and sports activities within the education system. (Art. 4) 2. Educational institutions must discover talents, stimulate sports creativity, and educate students on sportsmanship. (Art. 5) 3. The Authority must establish specialized sports centres in schools to care for distinguished student athletes. (Art. 6) 4. All entities must guarantee the right of persons with disabilities to practice sports. (Art. 7) 5. Military and police sports categories must coordinate with the Authority before participating in events. (Art. 8) 6. Federal and local entities must allocate suitable spaces for sports exercise in residential facilities. (Art. 12) 7. Sports facility users must abide by sportsmanship behaviour and maintain public order and property. (Art. 13) (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023, Art. 4-8, 12-13)
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The law establishes several registration and approval requirements: 1. The Authority must register sports federations, associations, and clubs. (Arts. 21, 28, 30) 2. Sports federations, associations, and clubs must obtain membership in the relevant sports federations. (Arts. 27, 32) 3. Sports institutions like centres and academies must be licensed by the competent authorities. (Art. 35) 4. Sports companies must be established and licensed in accordance with the relevant legislation. (Art. 48) 5. The Authority's approval is required for certain activities of registered sports entities. (Art. 39) (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023, Arts. 21, 27-28, 30, 32, 35, 39, 48)
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The law provides the following key rights and protections: 1. The right of every person to practice physical and sports activities within the education system. (Art. 4) 2. The right of persons with disabilities to practice sports in schools, clubs, and to form national teams. (Art. 7) 3. The right of national sports teams to use sports facilities, subject to coordination with the authorities. (Art. 13) 4. The right of the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee to develop a national plan for talent discovery and incubation. (Art. 14) (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023, Arts. 4, 7, 13-14)
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The key authorities and bodies responsible under this law are: 1. The General Authority of Sports (the Authority): Oversees and regulates the sports sector, registers sports entities, and issues decisions. (Arts. 1, 36) 2. The Chairman of the General Authority of Sports: Leads the Authority and issues decisions. (Art. 1) 3. Competent Authorities: Local authorities that license, regulate, supervise and control sports entities and activities. (Art. 1) 4. The National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, UAE Special Olympics, and UAE Committee for People with Hearing Disabilities: National sports organizations with specific mandates. (Arts. 17-19) 5. The National Anti-Doping Agency: The national organization for anti-doping policies and procedures. (Art. 20) (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023, Arts. 1, 17-20, 36)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law specifies the following penalties for non-compliance: 1. The most severe penalty: Imprisonment and a fine of not less than AED 100,000 and not exceeding AED 2,000,000. (Art. 52) 2. Imprisonment and a fine of not less than AED 100,000 and not exceeding AED 1,000,000, or one of these two penalties. (Art. 54) 3. Administrative penalties, such as warnings, fines, suspension, or cancellation of registration or licenses. (Art. 55) 4. Disciplinary penalties, such as warnings, fines, suspension, or dismissal from sports activities. (Art. 56) (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023, Arts. 52, 54-56)
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The law states that fees may be imposed, but does not specify any exact amounts. Article 59 states: "Fees may be imposed for the services provided under the provisions of this Law, in accordance with a decision issued by the Cabinet." (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023, Art. 59)
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The law does not specify any exemptions or exceptions to its scope or requirements. (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023)
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The law does not provide details on dispute resolution mechanisms. It only states that registered sports entities have the right to "Representation before the judicial authorities" in Article 44. (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023, Art. 44)
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The law does not specify any deadlines or time limits. (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023)
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The law references several other UAE federal laws and decrees, including: - Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 Concerning the Jurisdictions of Ministries and Powers of Ministers - Federal Law No. (29) of 2006 Concerning the Rights of Disabled Persons - Federal Law by Decree No. (7) of 2008 Regarding the Establishment of the General Authority of Sports - Federal Law No. (8) of 2014 Regarding the Security of Sports Facilities and Events - Federal Law No. (7) of 2015 Regarding the Control of Prohibited Substances in the Field of Horse Racing and Equestrian - Federal Law No. (14) of 2016 Concerning Administrative Violations and Penalties in the Federal Government - Federal Law No. (16) of 2016 Regarding the Establishment of the UAE Sports Arbitration Centre - Federal Law No. (3) of 2021 On the Organization of Donations - Federal Decree by Law No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law - Federal Law by Decree No. (32) of 2021 Concerning Commercial Companies (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023)
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Law Concerning Sports came into effect on 1 June 2023, as stated in the Effective Date section. It was published in the Official Gazette No. 752 on 31 May 2023. (Federal Law Concerning Sports, 2023)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Law Concerning Sports 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.