In application of the provisions of the present Law, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

State: United Arab Emirates

Authority: General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments

Competent Authority: Local Committee or Authority concerned with Mosques’ Affairs

Chairman: Chairman of the concerned Authority

Mosque: Space provided for prayer; all the Mosque’s yards, entrances, dependencies and facilities are considered related to the Mosque and subject to same provisions.

Public Prayer Place: Space provided for prayer in the public or private establishments

Private Prayer Place: Space provided for prayer in the public or private establishments if it is not open to all

Eid Prayer Place: Space provided for Eid prayer

Staff of the Mosque: Whoever, at a Mosque or Prayer Place, occupies any of the positions that are approved and licensed by the Competent Authority

The provisions of the present Law shall apply to the Mosques as well as to the Public, Private and Eid Prayer Places in the State.

1- The Competent Authority shall have the competence to name the Mosques.

2- Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause (1) of this Article, the Mosque may be named upon approval of the Competent Authority and at the behest of the donor contributing to the construction of the Mosque.

3- The Name of the Mosque shall not be repeated in the same City except with the consent of the Competent Authority.

The Competent Authority shall supervise the Mosques as well as the Public and Eid Prayer Places, and it shall organise their affairs and take care of them, and in particular:

1- Provide the needs of the Mosques and Eid Prayer Places, and supervise their cleanliness, maintenance and furniture.

2- Determine the prayer timings and muezzin call for prayer times, as well as the mechanism of installing internal and external loudspeakers in addition to the terms and conditions of their use.

3- Organise religious lectures and studies and any other events.

4- Prepare unified subjects for the Fridays’ Khutbah as well as the Eid and Religious Events’ Sermons, determine the persons responsible for them and supervise their execution.

5- Determine the timings of the opening and closure of the Mosques, as well as the conditions and controls of seclusion therein

1- It is not permitted to establish any Mosque or Eid Prayer Places, or to provide spaces for Public Prayer Places or carry out any modification or additions or maintenance without getting a License from the Competent Authority in coordination with the Concerned Entities in the State, according to the prescribed conditions and controls.

2- The donors contributing to the establishment of the Public Prayer Places shall provide their needs and bear their expenditures in coordination with the Competent Authority, according to the conditions and controls.

The Competent Authority, in coordination with the Concerned Entities in the State, shall follow all the procedures that ensure safety and security of the Mosques and Prayer Places and Eid Prayer Places.

1- The title deeds of the Mosques shall be registered in the name of the Competent Authority at the Entities Concerned with the registration of real estates in each Emirate

2- By way of exception from the provision of clause (1) of this Article, the title deeds of the Mosques may be registered in the name of any governmental, federal or local entity in coordination with the Competent Authority, provided that the party that is responsible for the care for the Mosque bears the charges of its maintenance under supervision of the Competent Authority and in coordination therewith.

Unless a Licence is granted by the Competent Authority, the following acts are forbidden at Mosques as well as at the Public, Private and Eid Prayer Places:

1- Delivering lectures or sermons

2- Organising Instructional Sessions and Quran memorisation courses

3- Collecting donations or contributions

4- Appointing or assigning any person to work on permanent or temporary basis

5- Establishing libraries

6- Celebrating religious or social events or organising meetings related thereto

7- Distributing books, circulars, CDs, audio-visual recordings and others, and stick advertisements and brochures.

8- Secluding in Mosques

9- Entering Qurans or furniture

10- Serving feasts or breakfasts

The following acts are directly forbidden at the Mosques as well as at the Public, Private and Eid Prayer Places:

1- Mendicancy

2- Intervening in the affairs of Sermons or Athan

3- Practicing any activity that may prejudice the security or the inviolability of the Mosques

The candidate for appointment to any job at the Mosques, shall meet the following requirements:

a- Be a citizen

b- Be of good reputation and good conduct

c- Not have been sentenced to a custodial penalty for a felony or misdemeanour involving breach of honour or trust, unless rehabilitated

d- Undergo the required procedures and tests

e- Be medically fit according to the decision of the official medical authority

f- Have acquired the educational qualifications certified and equalised by the relevant authority in the State

2- Subject to the provision of Clause (1) of this Article, non-citizens may be appointed in case of lack of citizens that meet the conditions and requirements of the vacant position.

1- The Council of Ministers – based on the proposal of the Board of Directors of the Authority- shall issue a Regulation related to the human and financial resources for the Staff of the Mosques of the Authority

2- The Chairman of the Authority shall issue a decision to provide residences for the workers at the Authority’s Mosques, upon the issuance of the Cabinet Decision mentioned in clause (1) of this Article, without infringement of their acquired employment rights.

The employees working at the Mosques shall commit to the following:

1- Implement the instructions of the Competent Authority in terms of Friday’s Khutbah as well as the Eid and Religious Events’ Sermons, in addition to the subjects of sermons, courses, lectures and Fatwa.

2- Wear the uniform designated by the Competent Authority to the Mosques’ workers while carrying out their assigned tasks.

The Mosques’ Staff shall be prohibited to:

1- Belong to any unlawful association, or practice any forbidden political or regulatory activities.

2- Deliver sermons, fatwa, lectures or Quran memorisation sessions outside the Mosques or at the entities which are authorised by the Competent Authority.

3- Participate in any public information activities without obtaining a prior permit from the Competent Authority.

4- Collect cash or in-kind donations or contributions for themselves or for a third party

The penalties stipulated in the present Law shall not prejudice any severer penalty stipulated in any other law.

Anyone who violates the provisions of Article (8) and Clauses (1,2) of Article (9) of the present Law, shall be sentenced to imprisonment or a fine of maximum (AED 5000) five thousand dirhams or either one of the two penalties.

Anyone who violates the provisions of Clause (3) of Article (9) of the present Law, shall be sentenced to imprisonment or a fine of minimum (AED 20000) twenty thousand dirhams and maximum (50000) fifty thousand dirhams or either one of the two penalties.

The staff assigned by virtue of a Decision of the Minister of Justice in agreement with the Chairman, shall be granted law enforcement authority to prove any violation of the provisions of the present Law and the decisions issued for its implementation, within the scope of competence of each staff member.

The Competent Authority shall undertake to regularise the statuses of the Mosques, Public and Eid Prayer Places which are established before the enforcement of the provisions of the present Law, within one year from the date of entry into force of the said provisions. This term may be extended by virtue of a Cabinet Decision.

1- Human Resource Legislations in force at the Competent Authority shall be apply unless special provisions are prescribed in this regard in the present Law.

2- The rules, regulations and decisions applicable at the time if issuance of the present Law shall remain in force without contradicting to its provisions, until the issuance of the rules, regulations and decisions replacing them.

1- The Council of Ministers shall issue the Implementing Regulation necessary for the application of the provisions of the present Law within six months from the date of enforcement.

2- The Authority shall issue the decisions required for the implementation of the provisions of the present Law.

3- Subject to the provisions of clauses (1) and (2) of this Article, the local authority concerned with the affairs of Mosques in each Emirate shall set the required conditions and controls to implement the provisions of this Law, without prejudice to its provisions.

Any provision violating or contradicting the provisions of the present Law shall be abrogated.

The present Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force from the day following its publication.