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Chapter One General Provisions: General Provisions
المادة 1
Article (1) Definitions In application of the provisions of this Law by Decree, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context otherwise requires: State : United Arab Emirates. Minister : Minister of Finance. Competent Authority : The local authority in the concerned Emirate competent with verifying the validity of the Trust Instrument created in that Emirate and registering it, in accordance with the provisions of Articles (42) and (44) of this Law by Decree, respectively. Person : Natural or legal person. Trust : The legal person established by virtue of the Trust Instrument in accordance with the provisions of this Law by Decree to achieve the purpose of the Trust. Settlor : A natural or legal person who creates the Trust and transfers its
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Federal Decree by Law No. (31) of 2023 On Concerning Trust 2 property thereto in accordance with the provisions of this Law by Decree. Trustee : A natural person, including the Professional Trustee, or a profession legal person, appointed in accordance with the Trust Instrument, to whom the authorities and powers identified in the Trust Instrument and the provisions of this Law by Decree are transferred to achieve the purpose of the Trust. Professional Trustee : A natural person licensed to carry out the duties of the Trustee according to the provisions of this Law by Decree or the legalisation in force in the State. Professional legal person : A legal person licensed in the State, including in any of the financial free zones, which is allowed by the licence to carry out the authorities and powers of the professional trustee. Trust Instrument : A written document prepared by the Settlor to determine the terms and conditions relating to the Trust, including any amendments to those terms and conditions. Terms of the Trust Instrument : Terms stipulated in the Trust Instrument that express the will of the Settlor and how to enforce and manage the Trust. Trust Property : Any movable or immovable property owned by the Trust, including any interests related thereto or deemed a part thereof and any existing or possible right, inside or outside State. The Trust Property includes Dividends of the Trust in accordance with what is specified by the Trust Instrument. Dividends of the Trust : All returns, interest, revenue and any profit resulting from an investment or use or disposal of any of elements of the Trust Property. Beneficiary : The person entitled to a personal right by virtue of the Trust Instrument, including the person entitled to or may be entitled to, in accordance with the Trust Instrument obtaining dividends or
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Federal Decree by Law No. (31) of 2023 On Concerning Trust 3 property of the Trust; and any person to whom the trustee has the power to grant the dividends of the trust, including granting the security right in his favour on the property of the Trust. Record : A database maintained by the Competent Authority for registering and documenting the Trust Instrument and any amendments thereto. Purpose of the Trust : The purpose for which the trust is created in accordance with the provisions of Clause (1) of Article (6) of the Law by Decree. Trust Protector : A person appointed by the Settlor to protect the Trust, or appointed in accordance with the mechanism determined by the Trust Instrument. Interested Party : The Settlor, Trustee, Beneficiary, the legal representative of the Beneficiary, or the Trust Protector. Competent Court : A court having the competence according to the Civil Procedures Law. Trust's Validity Certificate : A certificate issued by the Competent Authority in accordance with the provisions of Clause (2) of Article (42) of this Law by Decree. Registration Certificate : An official certificate issued by the Competent Authority in accordance with the provisions of Clause (4) of Article (44) of this Law by Decree. Financial Free Zones : Free zones specified by virtue of the provisions of Federal Law No. (8) of 2004 Concerning the Financial Free Zones. Initial Registration : The first procedure of registering the relevant Trust Instrument in the Record and issuing a registration certificate, excluding any subsequent registration of any amendment to the Trust Instrument in the Record.
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Federal Decree by Law No. (31) of 2023 On Concerning Trust 4
