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Khalifa issues law to establish ZCIC

ABU DHABI — The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi Emirate, has issued a law setting up Zayed Centre for Islamic Culture (ZCIC).

According to the law, the newly established institution will replace Zayed Centre for New Muslims and enjoy financial and administrative autonomy as well as full legal eligibility. It will be attached to the Crown Prince’s Court and will carry out its activities in the Abu Dhabi emirate.

Under the law, branches of ZCIC may be set up inside and outside the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The objective of the centre, as outlined by the legislation, is to educate new Muslims on Islam and how to coexist with the Muslim community as well as introduce Islam to non-Muslims and teach Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.

However, the centre may carry out all tasks needed for reaching its objectives, particularly taking part in dialogue among civilisations both internally and abroad and promoting tolerance among Muslims and non-Muslims.

The centre shall have a board of trustees, whose members shall be named by a decree from the crown prince. It is the board of trustees’ responsibility to draw up the general policy of the centre.

As per the law, the centre shall have a board of directors consisting of a minimum of five members and a maximum of nine, including the chairman and his deputy. A decree naming the board members and their remuneration shall be issued by the crown prince. The duration of membership shall be three renewable years. The board of directors, as stipulated by the law, is the higher authority overseeing the running of the centre. The centre shall derive its resources from allocations earmarked by the Abu Dhabi government and donations, grants, gifts and bequests.

The law shall come into force from the date of its issue and shall be published in the official gazette.

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