Federal Law No. 29 of 2006
Concerning The Rights Of Handicapped
Amended by:
Federal law no 14/2009 dated 16/12/2009
We, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates State,
Pursuant to the perusal of the Constitution; and
Federal Law no. 1 of 1972 concerning the Jurisdiction of the Ministries and the Powers of the Ministers and the amending laws thereof; and
Federal Law no. 11 of 1972 concerning Compulsory Education; and
Federal Law no. 12 of 1972 concerning the Organization of Clubs and Associations Operating in the Field of Youth Welfare; and
Federal Law no. 4 of 1976 Establishing and Regulating the United Arab Emirates University and the amending laws thereof; and
Federal Law no. 9 of 1976 on the Delinquent and Homeless Juveniles; and
Federal Law no. 8 of 1980 Regulating Work Relations and the amending laws thereof; and
The Criminal Code issued by Federal Law no. 3 of 1987 and the amending laws thereof; and
The Criminal Procedures Law issued by Federal Law no. 35 of 1992 and the amending laws thereof; and
The Law on Salaries and Social Assurances issued by Federal Law no. 7 of 1999 and the amending laws thereof; and
Federal Law no. 21 of 1995 on Circulation and Traffic; and
Federal Law no. 25 of 1999 on the General Authority of Youth and Sports; and
Acting upon the proposal of the Minister of Social Affairs, the approval of the Cabinet and the ratification of the Federal Supreme Council,
Have promulgated the following Law:
Title One
General Provisions
Article 1
In the implementation of the provisions hereof, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings assigned for each of them unless the context requires otherwise:
State : The United Arab Emirates State.
Ministry: The Ministry of Social Affairs.
Minister : The Minister of Social Affairs.
Competent Parties : Federal and local parties concerned with the implementation of the provisions hereof.
Handicapped: Any person affected by incapacity or temporary or permanent total or partial dysfunction in one’s physical, sensory, mental, interactive, educational or psychological capacities to such an extent that it decreases one’s capacity to fulfill one’s regular requirements as one’s peers without handicap.
ID card : The personal ID card granted by the Ministry to the handicapped. It shall be deemed an official document stating that the carrier is with handicap and guaranteeing the provision to the holder the rights and services set forth herein.
Discrimination : Any differentiation, alienation or restriction due to the handicap causing damages or refusal to admit, enjoy or practice on an equal basis any of the rights set forth by means of the legislations in force in the State.
Article 2
The present Law aims at guaranteeing the rights of handicapped and providing them with all services required based on the limits of their abilities and capacities. Their handicap may not hinder the handicapped from receiving such rights and services, namely in the field of social, economic, health, educational, vocational, cultural and promotional welfare and services.
Article 3
The State shall guarantee equal-footing treatment between the handicapped and their peers without handicap and non-discrimination caused by the handicap in all legislations. It shall also guarantee the adherence thereto in all policies and programs of economic and social development, and the adoption of adequate measures to prevent discrimination on grounds of handicap.
Article 4
The Ministry, in coordination with the competent authorities, shall prepare programs for the awareness of the handicapped, their families and local environment regarding all matters related to the rights set forth herein as well as the other legislations and services granted thereto.
Article 5
It shall not be deemed a discrimination any judgment, standard or practice applied on legitimate grounds, and the State shall guarantee the undertaking of all necessary measures to ensure that handicapped enjoy their rights and freedoms, and that any aggression thereagainst or arbitrary deprivation thereof is prohibited.
Article 6
The State shall ensure legal assistance to the handicapped in all cases restraining their freedom for any legal grounds. The following shall be undertaken upon the issuance of whatever restrains the freedom of handicapped:
1– Their treatment in a humane manner, taking into account their condition and needs since they are handicapped.
2– Their provision with necessary information and data related to the grounds behind the restraint of their freedom.
3– The provision of adequate assistance should they be unable to pay the legal fees, expenses or fines, and such by virtue of a Cabinet decision.
Article 7
The State shall ensure to the handicapped their exercise of their right of speech and opinion through the use of Braille, sign language and other means of communication, as well as their right to request, receive and transfer information on equal footing with the others.
Article 8
The Law shall ensure the necessary protection of the correspondences, medical records and personal affairs of the handicapped. The regulation hereto shall determine the restrictions and said protection mechanisms.
Article 9
The Ministry, in cooperation with the competent authorities, shall establish centers, institutions and institutes for the care, training and rehabilitation of the handicapped. Such centers, institutions and institutes shall undertake the following tasks:
a– The rehabilitation of handicapped for their adaptation and integration in the society.
b– The provision of special education for handicapped.
c– The provision of professional training programs for handicapped.
d– The training of the families of handicapped on the methods to deal with them.
Title Two
The Rights Of Handicapped
Chapter One
Health And Rehabilitation Services
Article 10
Every handicapped shall be entitled to benefit from health, rehabilitation and support services on the expense of the State, among which:
a– All types of surgeries, resulting or not from the handicap: transplant, treatment of ulcerations, limbs correction, hospitalization in specialized and other centers for intensive or regular treatment. Such shall include the provision of all equipment, tools, aids and other necessary means for the success of the surgery, whether such surgery is permanent or provisional.
b– The provision of examination and treatment by: general practitioners, specialized doctors, consultants, dentists, psychologists, audiometry, x-rays, laboratory tests and prescriptions.
c– Rehabilitation and specialized treatment: in and out treatment, including: natural therapy, work therapy, orthophony, hearing and psychological treatment.
d – Technical aids and equipments as mobile and fixed compensatory devices (limbs, earpieces, prosthetic eyes and others), orthopedic shapes, moving aids (wheelchairs, canes, walkers, crutches), protection against ulcerations and all tools used in surgeries.
Article 11
By virtue of a Cabinet decision, a committee called “Specialized Committee for Health and Rehabilitation Services for handicapped” shall be established, presided by the Undersecretary of Health, and shall comprise as members representatives of competent parties. The Minister of Health shall issue the work regulation and meetings of the Committee.
The Committee shall exercise in particular the following:
1– Provide diagnostic, therapy and rehabilitation services, and develop health programs and services for the advancement of handicapped.
2– Set early diagnostic, awareness, health education programs, and provide early and specialized intervention means in the field of handicap.
3– Provide, train and rehabilitate health human cadres specialized in the field of all types of handicap.
4– Prepare national studies to identify the reasons, decline of and means of prevention from handicap, and circulate such studies among competent parties in the State.
File periodical reports to the Minister in preparation for submission to the Cabinet to take the adequate measures.
Chapter Two
Education
Article 12
The State shall ensure to handicapped equal opportunities of education within all educational, professional rehabilitation, adult and continuous education institutions and such in regular or special classes if necessary. It shall also provide the academic curriculum in sign language, Braille and any other methods as need may be.
Handicap do not constitute a hindrance to the application for enrollment or entry into any educational institution of any kind, whether governmental or private.
Article 13
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research shall commit to taking the adequate measures in cooperation with the competent parties in order to provide educational diagnostic, academic curriculums as well as the means and techniques facilitating the educational objectives. It shall also endeavor to provide substitute enhanced means to communicate with the handicapped, and set substitute strategies, simplified physical environment and other necessary means to guarantee total participation of students with handicap.
Article 14
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in cooperation with the competent parties, shall provide academic specialties to habilitate the workers with handicapped and their families, whether in the fields of diagnostic, early discovery, and educational, social, psychological, medical or professional rehabilitation, and guarantee the provision of training programs during the service to provide the workers with expertise and modern know-hows.
Article 15
By virtue of a Cabinet decision, a committee called “Specialized Committee for Educating handicapped” shall be established presided by the Undersecretary of Education, and shall comprise as members representatives of competent parties. The Minister of Education shall issue the work regulation and meetings of the Committee.
The Committee shall exercise in particular the following:
1– Set executive programs to guarantee equal opportunity of education to all handicapped since early childhood within all educational institutions, whether in regular classes or in specialized educational units.
2– Develop the methodic structure of the educational programs, and set educational plans to keep abreast with the era and technical evolution, and to meet the developmental and psychological characteristics of the handicapped.
3– Organize all matters related to the education of the handicapped, namely the programs, procedures, methods and conditions of enrolment in regular classes and sitting exams.
4– Set policies of rehabilitation and training of human educational cadres operating in the field of handicap.
5– Provide advice and technical, technological and educational assistance to all educational institutions desirous of receiving persons with special needs, and study the funding application related to the equipments, techniques and rehabilitation of the educational institution environment.
6– File periodical reports to the Minister in preparation for submission to the Cabinet to take the adequate measures.
Chapter Three
Work
Article 16
Handicapped shall be entitled to work and occupy public positions, and handicap shall not constitute a hindrance to the candidature and selection for a job. Upon the examinations related to the competency for a job, handicap of the persons subject to the provisions hereof shall be taken into account.
Article 17
The Ministry may sign contract with other parties to carry out projects for the rehabilitation of handicapped, and the Minister shall determine the necessary conditions, provisions and restrictions thereof.
Article 18
Legislations issued in the State shall underline the procedures to be taken in order to ensure the occupancy by the handicapped of positions in governmental and private sector, the working hours, vacations and other provisions related to the handicapped including necessary restriction of termination of service, bonus maturity and pension.
The Cabinet, acting upon the proposal of the Minister, shall determine the ratio of jobs allocated to the handicapped in the governmental and private sectors.
Article 19
By virtue of a Cabinet decision, a committee called “Specialized Committee for Labor of handicapped” shall be established, presided by the Undersecretary, and shall comprise as members representatives of competent parties. The Minister shall issue the work regulation and meetings of the Committee.
The Committee shall exercise in particular the following:
1– Set the necessary policies for the labor of the handicapped and the requirements to achieve the largest capacity possible while ensuring the continuity of work for the longest period.
2– Encourage and support handicapped qualified to establish business projects and economic return, and provide information regarding available grants and loans and the ways to obtain them.
3– Provide information regarding the work market, available jobs and future horizons.
4– Prepare studies regarding professions and positions in line with the technical developments and requirements of the job market.
5– Encourage and orient the special sector in order to train, rehabilitate and employ handicapped, and provide adequate support within the limits of available capacities.
6– Suggest necessary measure to protect handicapped against occupational exploitation.
7– File periodical reports to the Minister in preparation for submission to the Cabinet to take the adequate measures.
Chapter Four
Public, Cultural And Sportive Life
Article 20
The State shall take necessary measures to achieve the participation of the handicapped in cultural, sportive and entertainment life, and such as follows:
1– The development and investment of the creative, artistic and mental capacities of the handicapped in view of enriching the society.
2– The provision of literary and cultural materials to the handicapped in all simplified types, including electronic texts, sign language and Braille, in audio, multimedia and other types.
3– The enablement of the handicapped to benefit from programs, media, theatrical and artistic shows and all cultural activities, the enhancement of its participation in such events, and the rules of exemption from related fees.
4– The enhancement of the participation of the handicapped in national, regional and international sportive activities.
5– File periodical reports to the Minister in preparation for submission to the Cabinet to take the adequate measures.
Article 21
By virtue of a Cabinet decision, a committee called “Specialized Committee for Sports, Culture and Recreation of handicapped” shall be established, presided by the Secretary of the General Authority of Youth and Sports, and shall comprise as members representatives of competent parties. The Minister shall issue the work regulation and meetings of the Committee.
The Committee shall exercise in particular the following:
1– Set the policies ensuring the comprehensive growth of the handicapped and provide opportunities for the exercise of sportive, cultural and recreational activities characterized by fun and safety and adequacy with their capacities, and set the conditions for their practice as their peers without handicap.
2– Enlarge the base of the exercise of sportive, culture and recreational activities among handicapped, and ensure the inclusion of sports of handicap in its two parts: sports for mentally challenged persons and sports for physically challenged persons in the heart of educational programs adopted in specialized institutions.
3– Set programs to prepare qualified human cadres to work with handicapped in the sportive, cultural and recreational fields.
4– Encourage the merge of the handicapped with their peers without handicap in sportive and cultural centers, clubs and camps and provide adequate games and activities.
5– File periodical reports to the Minister in preparation for submission to the Cabinet to take the adequate measures.
Chapter Five
Fitted Environment
Article 22
Every person with special need shall be entitled to a suitable environment, and the ability to reach wherever other can reach.
Article 23
The competent parties shall coordinate to determine the architectural standards and specifications related to establishments and public facilities, issued by a Cabinet decision upon the proposal of the Minister. Such decision shall determine the necessary restrictions for the implementation of such standards, specifications and exceptions thereto on all that is related to the rehabilitation of the establishment for the use, needs, safety requirements of and prevention of harm to the handicapped.
The provisions of this Decision shall apply to the Government and private sectors unless excepted by special stipulations.
Article 24
The Cabinet shall issue the regulation and condition of the obtainment by the handicap of a governmental residence, determining the specifications of such residence, the rules governing the ownership thereof, and other rules regulating the governmental residence affairs.
Article 25
1– Roads, public vehicles, and land, air and sea transportation means must meet the necessary technical specifications for the use and needs of the handicapped.
2– A Cabinet decision shall determine the required conditions for the obtainment by the handicapped of a driver’s license, and the restrictions related thereto. It shall be added to the driver’s licenses mentioned by the Circulation and Traffic Law a new category for the handicapped, and mentioning necessary data thereon depending on the type of handicap.
Article 26
All insurance companies shall commit to ensure vehicles of handicapped whenever required.
Title Three
Exemptions
Article 27
Shall be exempt from all taxes and fees the vehicles destined for handicapped, and such based upon an impairment certificate issued by the Ministry. Such exemption shall not be granted to another vehicle unless after the passing of five years from the date of the previous exemption or the destruction of the car. Should the car be disposed of during said period, assessed taxes and fees must be paid.
Article 28
Shall be exempt from assessed parking fees the vehicles destined for handicapped.
Article 29
Shall be exempt from license fees transportation means of associations and centers for handicapped determined by the Cabinet.
Article 30
The Cabinet shall determine the associations and centers for handicapped to be exempted from fees levied on building permits applications submitted for the erection of buildings destined to be used for handicapped, and such by virtue of a certificate issued by the Ministry in this regard.
Article 31
Shall be exempt from judicial fees the legal proceedings filed by the handicapped within the frame of the execution of the provisions thereof.
Article 32
Shall be exempt from the postal fees and charges all special correspondences of the handicapped, associations or centers of handicapped determined by the Cabinet, whether such correspondences include books, newspapers, magazines or others.
Title Four
Sanctions
Article 33
Without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated in any other law, whoever uses the card of handicapped without legal cause shall be sentenced to a fine amounting to one thousand Dirhams at least and five thousand Dirhams at most, and such without prejudice to the civil liability whenever required.
The sanction shall be doubled in case of repetition.
Title Five
Final Provisions
Article 34
The Ministry shall approve the logos pertaining to handicapped and circulate them to the parties overseeing the facilities or to the entities publishing brochures and printings and preparing programs that include such logos.
Article 35
Handicapped shall not be requested to present proof of their special needs other than the card issued by the Ministry in this regard. The Minister shall determine by a decision the conditions to obtain such card.
Article 36
The Ministry shall give permits to non-governmental organizations concerned with the care, education, training and rehabilitation of handicapped, and no physical or moral personality may establish any such organizations unless subsequent to the obtainment of permits thereof from the Ministry.
By virtue of a Cabinet decision, the conditions, restrictions and permit fees of such organizations, the liabilities thereof and sanctions imposed thereof upon infringement and other provisions regulating their activities shall be determined.
Article 37
The Minister shall issue the necessary regulations and decisions for the implementation of the provisions hereof.
Article 38
Every provision conflicting or contradicting with the provisions hereof shall be cancelled.
Article 39
This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette, and shall come into force as of the date of its publication.
Promulgated by Us at the Presidential
Palace in Abu Dhabi
On 19 Rajab 1427 H.
Corresponding to 13/8/2006
Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
President of the United Arab Emirates State
This Federal Law has been published in the Official Gazette, issue no. 453, p. 52.

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