Federal Decree-Law no. 1 dated 24/07/2002

Federal Decree-Law no. 4 dated 11/07/2021

In the implementation of the provisions of this Law, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings stated beside them unless the context requires otherwise:

State: The State of the United Arab Emirates.

Ministry: Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

Minister: Minister of Presidential Affairs.

Centre: The Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research.

Board: Centre's Board of Trustees.

Director General: Director General of the Centre.

The Centre shall replace the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, established under the Federal Decree-Law no. (1) of 2002. It shall have an independent juristic entity necessary to conduct its affairs and it shall report to the Minister. It shall have its own administrative and financial rules and regulations issued by decisions from the Minister.

The headquarters of the Centre shall be located in the city of Abu Dhabi, and the Centre may establish branches or offices thereof inside the State by a decision from the Minister upon the recommendation of the Board.

The Centre aims to be a scientific body specialised in strategic studies and research.

The Centre shall:

1- Conduct strategic studies and research in the military, political, demographic, economic, social and Information Technology fields, and any other fields approved by the Board.

2- Carry out necessary analysis for the strategic studies and research carried out by it, according to the applicable rules and regulations.

3- Provide opinion and advice after conducting the necessary theoretical and practical studies, research and analysis, at the request of the federal entities or the local entities at the State, and coordinate with them to take advantage of their potential and capacities.

4- Issue, publish and translate scientific books, periodicals and series in Arabic and in any other language.

5- Issue specialised media bulletins including news studies and analysis on the subjects and upcoming events that are of interest to the State.

6- Collect, analyse and store information in a scientific manner using modern technology, which contributes to policy-making and decision-making.

7- Organise conferences, seminars, lectures and workshops inside and outside the State in coordination with the relevant authorities.

8- Organise training courses related to the Centre’s objectives and competencies in coordination with the relevant authorities.

9- Encourage scientific research by providing support and grants to the research projects and researchers, according to the applicable rules at the Centre.

10- Enter into protocols and agreements of scientific cooperation with research centres, universities and scientific institutions in order to strengthen cooperation between them.

11- Refer to experts and specialists from inside and outside the State according to the applicable rules at the Centre.

12- Any other relevant task assigned by the Minister.

1- The Centre shall be managed by a Board of Trustees formed by a decision from the Minister, of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and a number of members. The Minister’s decision shall determine the remuneration of the Board Chairman and members.

2- The membership period of the Board is of three years, renewable for other similar periods.

3- The Board shall suggest its own bylaws.

4- The Board may refer to the experienced persons it deems proper to assist it in its work without having a counted vote upon taking decisions.

5- The Board shall select a rapporteur thereof from among the Centre’s employees.

The Board shall:

1- Approve the general policy of the Centre in order to achieve its objectives and follow the implementation thereof after accreditation by the Minister.

2- Approve the Centre’s annual draft budgets and final account according to the appropriations allocated for the same within the budget of the Ministry and accredit them by the Minister.

3- Approve the draft human resources regulation, financial regulation and bylaws of the Centre’s employees and organisational structure, to be issued by a Minister Decision.

4- Approve the draft contracts concluded with the individuals, authorities and organisations, within the limits set forth in the regulations and bylaws of the Centre.

5- Submit a semi-annual report on all the aspects of the Centre’s activity to the Minister.

6- Discuss the subjects transferred to it by the Minister or submitted to it by the Director General.

7- Any other relevant task assigned by the Minister.

The Board shall form an executive committee from among its members and delegate it some of its competencies. The formation decision shall determine the Head and competencies of the Committee.

The Centre shall have a Director General who shall be its legal representative, appointed by a Federal Decree upon the nomination of the Minister. The appointment Decree shall determine his rank and financial allocations. The Director General shall manage and run the affairs of the Centre, within the limits stipulated by this Law and the Centre’s rules and regulations, and shall, in particular:

1- Prepare the draft policies and plans necessary for the achievement of the Centre’s objectives.

2- Develop programmes to implement the approved policies and plans and submit periodic reports to the Board concerning these programmes and accomplishments, and their objections.

3- Appoint in the Centre’s positions and carry out financial and administrative actions within the limits prescribed in the rules and regulations in force at the Centre.

4- Prepare the Centre’s annual draft budgets, final accounts and regulations and submit them to the Board.

5- Call for experts and technicians to participate in the tasks of the Centre and determine the financial remunerations thereof, and such within the scope of the financial allocations determined for such purpose, and in accordance with the rules set by the Board in this regard.

6- Any other relevant task assigned by the Minister or the Board.

The rules and regulations issued by the Minister shall apply to the Centre’s employees and all that is not included in the provisions shall be subject to the applicable laws on human resources in the State, upon the approval of the Minister.

The Centre's revenues shall consist of:

1- The annual appropriations allocated for the Centre from the Ministry's budget.

2- The revenues received by the Centre according to the provisions of this Law and determined by decisions issued by the Chairman of the Board after the approval of the Board.

3- The donations, grants and wills approved by the Board and not contradicting the objectives of the Centre.

The Centre’s funds shall be considered public funds and shall be exempt from all fees and taxes.

1- The Minister shall appoint one or more auditors for a period of one renewable year, provided that he is one of the accredited auditors at the State. His appointment decision shall determine his remuneration.

2- The auditor shall submit quarterly reports to the Minister.

1- The employees of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research established under the said Federal Decree-Law no. (1) of 2002 shall be transferred to the Centre.

2- Any appropriations allocated to the Centre shall be transferred to the Ministry’s budget. The rules and regulations in force at the Centre shall continue to apply until issuance of the Centre’s rules and regulations according to the provisions of this Law.

The Minister shall issue the Implementing Regulation hereof, upon the recommendation of the Board.

The said Federal Decree-Law no. (1) of 2002 shall be abrogated, as well as any provision violating or contradicting the provisions of this Law.

This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into effect on the day following the date of publication thereof.