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Maktoum issues law setting up Dubai Executive Council

DUBAI - His Highness Shaikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, Law No. 2 of 2003, setting up Dubai Executive Council (DEC). The 14-article law takes effect from yesterday.

Article 3 of the law states the council has been set up to help the Ruler of the emirate to discharge his work and authority. The council will composed a chairman, a deputy chairman and members drawn from the heads or secretary-generals of local departments. It also says that people who are not heads or secretary-generals of local departments may also be appointed members of the council.

Article 4 states that the Ruler shall appoint the chairman of the council. He shall also receive the latter's resignation and shall relieve him of his post by a decree. Article 5 states that the Ruler, on recommendations of the chairman of the council, shall appoint a deputy chairman of the council, chairmen or secretary-generals of local departments. He shall also receive their resignation letters and relieve them of their posts by issuing decrees.

Article 6 states that departments mentioned in this law include the following: The Ruler's Court, the Department of Health and Medical Services, the Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, the Dubai Police Headquarters, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the Department of Auqaf and Islamic Affairs, the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Lands and Properties, Dubai Civil Aviation and Free Zone Department, the Finance Department, the Justice Department, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, the Information Department and Dubai Municipality.

Article 8 of the law states that the DEC shall have the following prerogatives: It shall draw, under the supreme control of the Ruler, the general policy of the council; it shall also see to the implementation of that policy; shall take the necessary measure to implement federal laws, including the preparing of local bye-laws, rules, decisions and orders; shall approve draft laws and decrees before referring them to the Ruler for approval and promulgation.

The DEC shall also take the necessary step to see to their implementation; shall prepare the draft of the emirate's annual budget and shall see to its implementation after attestation. It shall also prepare the final statement. It shall approve development plans and see to their implementation; shall approve the projects of organisations and shall issue this approval with the consent of the Ruler; shall supervise proper implementation of laws, systems and decisions; shall approve agreements signed by oil companies; shall set up and organise government departments and other government institutions which would be in the interest of the emirate to have them set up. It shall also supervise the progress of work at those institutions.

The council shall supervise coordination of work among various departments and shall see to the smooth progress of work at those departments; other prerogatives which shall be entrusted to it as per the law.

Article 9 of the law states that the Ruler shall hold the DEC chairman, deputy chairman and heads and secretary-generals of the departments responsible for their work and for their prerogatives. Article 10 states that the chairman of the council shall present to the Ruler, at the end of every fiscal year, a detailed report on various works executed during the year. He shall attach to the report a programme of the council's work for the next year.

Article 12 states that the council would have a secretariat which shall be headed by a secretary-general, to be appointed by a decree. He shall write his own reports. His prerogatives and duties shall be defined according to the system that would be issued by the council. Article 13 nullifies any text in any law or system that contradicts the articles of this new law, while Article 14 states that the law takes effect from the date of its issue and shall be published in the official gazette.

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