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

State: The United Arab Emirates.

Ministry: Ministry of Community Development.

Minister: Minister of Community Development.

Competent Authority: Competent Local Authority.

Organising Entities of Volunteer Work: Federal and local government entities, national societies and associations and the private sector.

Volunteer Work: Every individual or collective activity, free of remuneration or employment, aiming at achieving benefit to others.

Volunteer: Every registered physical or legal person performing a Volunteer Work without remuneration or employment.

Volunteer Team: Group of registered physical or legal persons forming a team to carry out voluntary work without remuneration or employment.

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer programmes of specified objectives and results.

Charter of Volunteer Work: Document determining the basic values of volunteering, as well as the rights and obligations of the volunteer and Volunteer Teams.

This Law aims to:

1- Spread, encourage and promote the culture of Volunteer Work and raise awareness of its importance.

2- Organise and develop Volunteer Work.

3- Achieve harmony between the outputs of Volunteer Work at the State, the government approaches and the national agenda.

4- Promote diversity and innovation in volunteer programmes and initiatives.

5- Adopt a unified reference for Volunteer Work at the State.

The provisions of this Law shall apply to Volunteer Work, volunteers and Volunteer Teams as well as the Organising Entities of Volunteer Work.

The exercise of Volunteer Work shall be according to the rules and conditions determined by this Law and its Implementing Regulation.

1- A record shall be created at the Ministry to register the volunteers and Volunteer Teams.

2- The Competent Authority may, after coordination with the Ministry, register Volunteer Works and Volunteer Work teams as determined by the Implementing Regulation of this Law.

3- It shall be forbidden to organise any Volunteer Work inside or outside the State unless it is licensed.

4- The Implementing Regulation of this Law shall determine the rules, conditions and procedures of registration and licensing.

The physical Volunteer Work shall:

1- Be a national of the State or a resident thereat.

2- Not be younger than 18 Gregorian years and those under the age of 18 may volunteer with the consent of their legal guardian.

3- Be of good conduct.

4- Be medically fit for the Volunteer Work assigned to him.

5- Be holder of a profession practice licence if his Volunteer Work is in the field of his profession.

6- Be registered to exercise Volunteer Work.

The Implementing Regulation of this Law shall determine any other conditions in addition to the rules of implementation of the provision of this Article.

The Implementing Regulation of this Law shall determine the conditions and rules of moral persons’ Volunteer Work.

The Implementing Regulation of this Law shall determine the conditions and rules of visiting Volunteer Works of the State.

The Ministry shall, in coordination with the government federal and local human resources entities, prepare the policies, mechanisms, rules and conditions of participation of the government employees in Volunteer Work.

The Volunteer Works may form a Volunteer Work team as determined by the Implementing Regulation of this Law.

The Organising Entities of Volunteer Work shall:

1- Provide health and safety requirements for Volunteer Works and Volunteer Work teams.

2- Insure the Volunteer Works and Volunteer Work teams during the exercise of Volunteer Work, whenever necessary.

3- Rehabilitate the Volunteers and Volunteer Work teams by engaging them in specialised introduction sessions of Volunteer Work.

4- Determine the tasks to be carried out by the Volunteer Work and Volunteer Work team.

5- Provide the necessary requirements to perform the task of the Volunteer Work and Volunteer Work team.

6- Maintain the confidentiality of the personal information of the Volunteer Work and Volunteer Work team.

7- Ensure that the Volunteer Works and Volunteer Work teams meet the conditions for registration according to the provisions of this Law.

The Volunteer Work and Volunteer Work team shall:

1- Be disciplined and work in the team work spirit according to the requirements of Volunteer Work.

2- Comply with all the instructions issued to them and implement the tasks assigned thereto.

3- Adhere to the Charter of Volunteer Work.

4- Adhere to the legislation in force at the State.

5- Maintain the confidentiality of information and data obtained during the performance of their Volunteer Work.

6- Update their personal data.

7- Adhere to the task and the objectives thereof, respect the policy, rules and regulations of the organising entity of Volunteer Work and preserve its properties.

8- Notify the organising entity of Volunteer Work upon suspension of Volunteer Work.

9- Not present, offer, promote or advertise any commodities or services during the exercise of Volunteer Work that would result into material benefit or achieve personal gain.

10- Return all the tools, equipment and devices handed over to them in trust, upon completion of the Volunteer Work.

11- Abide by the safety and security instructions.

The Ministry shall, in coordination with the Organising Entities of Volunteer Work:

1- Present voluntary opportunities by professions, competencies and interests.

2- Handle the Volunteer Works and Volunteer Work teams in the field of Volunteer Work.

3- Document the Volunteer Works and hours.

4- Market for events and attract more Volunteer Works.

5- Adopt the awareness and educational programmes and activities for the community members and institutions in all that is related to Volunteer Work.

6- Evaluate and classify the Volunteer Work and Volunteer Work teams according to the requirements of Volunteer Work.

7- Receive complaints from and against Volunteer Works and Volunteer Work teams.

8- Volunteers and Volunteer Work teams shall be prohibited to collect donations or allow the collection thereof or advertise the same through any means without the prior consent of the Ministry.

The Implementing Regulation of this Law shall determine the methods and rules of implementation of the provisions of this Article.

1- The National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority shall coordinate and supervise the roles of the Organising Entities of Volunteer Work in cases of emergencies, crises and disasters.

2- The Organising Entities of Volunteer Work shall abide by the decisions and instructions issued by the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority in cases of emergencies, crises and disasters.

The Implementing Regulation of this Law shall determine the conditions and rules of exercise of any Volunteer Work outside the State.

The Ministry may, in case of violation of the provisions of Articles (4), (5), (10) and (11) and Clauses (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11) of Article (12) of this Law by the Volunteer Work, Volunteer Work team or organiser of Volunteer Work, take any of the following actions:

1- Warning.

2- Written warning.

3- Removal of the violation and its effects at the expense of the violator.

4- Suspend the Volunteer Work, Volunteer Work team or organiser of Volunteer Work for the period determined by the Ministry.

5- Remove the Volunteer Work, Volunteer Work team or organiser of Volunteer Work from the record.

The Implementing Regulation of this Law shall determine the procedures of imposition of sanctions.

1- The imposition of the penalties set forth in this Law shall not prejudice any other more severe penalty stipulated in another Law.

2- Whoever exercises Volunteer Work inside or outside the State in violation of the provisions of this Law and its Implementing Regulation, shall be punished by a fine not less than AED (10,000) and not exceeding AED (100,000) one hundred thousand.

3- Whoever discloses confidential information or data perused during performing his volunteer tasks shall be punished by a fine not exceeding AED (30,000) thirty thousand.

4- Whoever collects donations for voluntary matters without the consent of the Ministry in violation of the provisions of this Law shall be punished by a fine not less than AED (50,000) fifty thousand.

The Minister shall issue the Charter of Volunteer Work and all decisions necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this Law.

The Cabinet shall – upon the Minister's suggestion – issue the Implementing Regulation of this Law within three months from the date of publication thereof.

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

This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force three months after the date of publication thereof.