Federal Law On the Union of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry

We, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates,

Having reviewed the Constitution;

• Federal Law No. (1) of 1972, Regarding the Competences of the Ministries and the Powers of the Ministers, as amended;
• Federal Law No. (8) of 1973, Regarding the Civil Service in the Federal Government, as amended;
• Federal Law No. (5) of 1976, Regarding the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry;
• Civil Transactions Law promulgated by Federal Law No. (5) of 1985, as amended;
• Federal Law No. (11) of 1992, Regarding the Civil Procedures;
• And the Law on Pensions and Social Security promulgated by Federal Law No. (7) of 1999;

and

• Upon the proposal of the Minister of Economy and Commerce, the approval of the Cabinet and the Federal National Council, and the ratification of the Federal Supreme Council;

Hereby promulgate the following Law:

Article (1) — Definitions

For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this Law, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:

• State: The United Arab Emirates.
• Ministry: The Ministry of Foreign Trade.
• Minister: The Minister of Foreign Trade.
• Competent Authority: The Competent Federal Authority.
• Chambers: The Chambers of Commerce and Industry established in each emirate of the State in accordance with its legislation.
• Federation of UAE Chambers: The Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the State.
• Board of Directors: The Board of Directors of the Federation of UAE Chambers.
• President: The President of the Board of Directors of the Federation of UAE Chambers.
• Executive Office: The Executive Office of the Board of Directors.
• General Secretariat: The General Secretariat of the Federation of UAE Chambers.

Section One — Establishment of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, its Objectives, and Competences

Chapter One — Establishment of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Article (2)

A Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry shall be established in the State, named the "Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry," and it shall consist of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the State.

Article (3)

The Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry shall have a legal personality and shall have the capacity to own and dispose of movable and immovable property and accept donations and bequests that do not contradict the objectives thereof.

Article (4)

1. The Federation of UAE Chambers shall be a public institution that does not aim to achieve profit.
2. The headquarters of the Federation of UAE Chambers shall be in the city of Abu Dhabi; and it may, by a decision of the Board of Directors, establish other branches or offices inside or outside the State to achieve its entrusted objectives.

Chapter Two — Objectives of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Article (5)

The Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry aims to achieve the following objectives:

1. Coordinating the activities of the Chambers and unifying their efforts to ensure the achievement of the purposes for which they were established.
2. Working to overcome the obstacles and solve the problems faced by the Chambers in carrying out their activities in order to achieve the objectives and purposes thereof.
3. Supporting cooperation and coordination with federal and local authorities, as well as regional and international organizations and bodies whose activities are related to economic affairs, in order to achieve public interest.
4. Attending to commercial, industrial, and other branches of economic activities related thereto, and contributing to their development.
5. Achieving harmony and cooperation between traders, manufacturers, and professional associations in various economic sectors upon referral from the Chambers.
6. Supporting cooperation between traders, manufacturers, and the government to reconcile the interests of traders with those of producers and consumers, in order to achieve public benefit.

Chapter Three — Competences of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Article (6)

The Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry shall exercise all the competences necessary to achieve the objectives thereof, and in particular, it shall have the following:

1. Organize conferences and workshops, locally, regionally, and internationally, with an economic and commercial nature, or participate therein, and follow up on the implementation of the recommendations issued thereby.
2. Cooperate with the relevant authorities and Chambers in promoting and developing national trade and industry, as well as increasing their investments and exports.
3. Collect and coordinate economic data, information, and statistics in cooperation with the competent authorities.
4. Provide authorities with data, statistics, research, and studies related to economic development in the State, upon request.
5. Provide opinions on draft laws and regulations related to economic affairs referred thereto by the competent government authorities.
6. Study problems and difficulties related to commercial and industrial affairs and present the results of these studies to the competent government institutions.
7. Participate in local, regional, and international committees formed to study issues related to commercial and industrial affairs, both within and outside the State.
8. Represent the Chambers within the State and participate in economic discussions conducted by federal authorities with other countries, international organizations, and bodies. The Federation may, upon the request of local authorities, participate in their economic discussions.
9. Represent the Chambers in local, regional, and international conferences, bodies, organizations, and exhibitions of an economic nature.
10. Conclude cooperation agreements with Chambers, Unions, and economic organizations outside the State.
11. Issue periodic journals and publications that include research, studies, and statistics of an economic nature.
12. Issue consolidated commercial and industrial directories at the national level and establish information platforms on the internet, or grant permission to individuals for their issuance after an agreement with the concerned chambers.
13. Organize exhibitions and markets within and outside the State, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and after coordinating with the competent authorities.
14. Settle commercial and industrial disputes through arbitration if the parties involved agree to refer the dispute thereto, and if the dispute involves persons belonging to more than one Chamber or between any of those persons and a foreigner or foreign entity, in accordance with the provisions of Federal Law No. (11) of 1992 Regarding Civil Procedures.
15. Invite experts and specialists from governmental departments or others to seek their opinions on matters falling within the competences of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
16. Form committees affiliated with the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry that work to achieve the objectives thereof, with the executive regulations specifying the types, competences, and working rules of these committees.

Section Two — The Bodies of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Their Competences

Chapter One — General Assembly

Article (8)

Repealed by Federal Decree by Law No. (19) of 2025.

Article (9)

Repealed by Federal Decree by Law No. (19) of 2025.

Article (10)

Repealed by Federal Decree by Law No. (19) of 2025.

Article (11)

Repealed by Federal Decree by Law No. (19) of 2025.

Article (12)

Repealed by Federal Decree by Law No. (19) of 2025.

Chapter Three: — The Executive Office

Article (23)

The Board of Directors shall form an Executive Office consisting of the President of the Board of Directors, Vice President, and (3) three members selected from among its members, with the Secretary-General of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry serving as its rapporteur. The Executive Office shall be competent to consider urgent matters concerning the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and take the necessary decisions, which shall be presented for ratification at the first Board meeting.

Chapter Four — The General Secretariat

Article (24)

1. The Federation of UAE Chambers shall have a General Secretariat consisting of a Secretary-General, an Assistant Secretary-General, and a sufficient number of employees and staff. The Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General shall be appointed by a decision of the Board of Directors.
2. The Secretary-General shall be appointed for a term of (4) four years, renewable once, by a decision of the Board of Directors.
3. The employees and staff of the General Secretariat shall be appointed by a decision of the President of the Board of Directors based on the nomination of the Secretary-General.
4. The General Secretariat shall be competent to implement all decisions of the Board of Directors and to manage the administrative and financial affairs of the Federation of UAE Chambers. The internal regulations shall specify the duties and competences of the Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General.

Section Three — Financial Affairs of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Article (25)

The Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry shall have an annual budget, with its fiscal year starting on the first (1) of January each year and ending on the thirty-first of December of the same year. The first fiscal year shall begin from the date this law enters into force and shall end on the thirty-first of December of the following year.

The General Secretariat shall be responsible for preparing the draft budget and submitting it to the Board of Directors at least (3) three months before the beginning of the new fiscal year. It shall also be responsible for preparing the draft final accounts of the Federation within (90) ninety days following the end of the fiscal year and submitting them to the Board, accompanied by the auditor's report.

Article (26)

The Board of Directors shall annually appoint an auditor who is registered in the auditors' record with the Ministry. The auditor shall be responsible for auditing the accounts of the fiscal year for which they have been appointed and submitting a report on the audit results to the Board, accompanied by their observations.

Article (27)

The financial resources of the Federation of UAE Chambers shall consist of the following:

1. The annual financial appropriations allocated to the Federation of UAE Chambers from the general budget of the Federation;
2. The annual contributions of the Chambers, in accordance with Clause (3) of Article (22) of this Law;
3. Revenues received by the Federation of UAE Chambers from exercising its competences; and
4. Grants, donations, and bequests that are consistent with the objectives of the Federation of UAE Chambers and approved by the Board of Directors.
5. Any other resources approved by a resolution of the Cabinet based on a proposal of the Board of Directors and after coordination with the Competent Authority.

Article (28)

The funds of the Federation shall be considered public funds and shall be subject to the rules related to public funds.

Article (29)

Repealed by Federal Decree by Law No. (19) of 2025.

Article (30)

The funds of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry may only be spent for the purposes for which it was established. The Board of Directors shall define the system for investing the surplus of these funds within the framework of the provisions of this law.

Article (31)

The Secretary-General, under the supervision of the Board of Directors, shall be responsible for implementing the budget of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and organizing accounts thereof.