أسئلة قانونية إماراتية عامةمرسوم بقانون اتحادي في شأن إنشاء المركز الاتحادي للتنافسية والإحصاء

Article (1) Definitions For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this Decree by 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.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2020 Regarding the Establishment of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre 2 Centre : The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, established pursuant to the provisions of this Decree by Law. Ministry : The Ministry of Cabinet Affairs. Minister : The Minister of Cabinet Affairs. Government Entities : All federal and local government entities in the State. Competent Authority : Any local government entity competent in statistics affairs in any of the Emirates of the State. Data : Any figures or information collected through conducting surveys, censuses, and research in Administrative Records or any other sources, for the purpose of reaching Statistical Information or deriving Competitiveness Indicators. Statistical Information : Data that is collected, organized, summarized, presented, and analyzed for the purpose of reaching reliable results. Respondent : The natural or legal person obliged to provide Data or Statistical Information in accordance with the provisions of this Decree by Law. Administrative Records : Paper or electronic records in which Statistical Information is recorded in any governmental or non-governmental entities. Statistical Document : Maps, charts, records, forms, manuals, methodologies, sample lists, and the like, which contain Data and Statistical Information. Statistical Survey : Any means used for the purpose of collecting Data and Statistical Information. Competitiveness : The ability of the State to achieve a balance between quality of life and productivity levels, while ensuring prosperity in both the public and private sectors. Competitiveness Indicators : Data or Statistical Information prepared in accordance with the methodologies adopted by the Centre, for the purpose of their use in Global Competitiveness Reports.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2020 Regarding the Establishment of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre 3 Competitiveness Initiatives : Programs, activities, procedures, or proposals that would improve the State's performance in Global Competitiveness Reports, in accordance with the adopted international standards. Global Competitiveness Reports : Reports that assess the level of Competitiveness of countries worldwide and list them in tables that determine the extent of each country's leadership in specific sectors. International Institutions : Any global entity that collects, analyzes, and issues global Data or reports, or that feeds other institutions that publish such Data or reports. Competitiveness Questionnaires : Questionnaires approved by an International Institution, which are distributed by the Centre to a specific segment of the Respondent, and subsequently collected and transmitted to the International Institutions.

Article (4) Competencies of the Centre In order to achieve its objectives, the Centre shall undertake the following competencies: 1. Proposing policies, strategies, legislations, and plans related to the field of statistical and Competitiveness work, in coordination with the Government Entities and Competent Authorities, and submitting them for approval by the Cabinet; 2. Studying the international best practices in all fields of statistical and Competitiveness work and working to implement them; 3. Enhancing and disseminating the culture of Competitiveness and the importance of the availability of statistical Data and information in the State; 4. Providing training and technical support to all Government Entities to advance statistical and Competitiveness work, in accordance with the international best practices in this regard; 5. Preparing and implementing a unified statistical system across various sectors, characterized by comprehensiveness, accuracy, consistency, continuity, and modernity at the State level; 6. Classifying and analyzing Statistical Information and Competitiveness Indicators in cooperation with Government Entities and Competent Authorities, and working to provide and make them available and accessible; 7. Unifying the definitions, methodologies, and classifications included in the standards used in statistical and Competitiveness work, in coordination with Government Entities and International Institutions; 8. Representing the State in international agreements, programs, and forums related to the field of statistical and Competitiveness work, in coordination with the concerned authorities in the State; 9. Holding conferences, seminars, and workshops related to the field of statistical and Competitiveness work and participating therein, in coordination with the concerned

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Federal Decree by Law of 2020 Regarding the Establishment of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre 5 authorities in the State. 10. Providing information services and technical and technological consultations and conducting specialized surveys for those who request them; 11. Any other tasks or competencies assigned thereto by the Cabinet, its chairman, or the Minister.

Article (5) Powers of the Minister The Minister shall supervise the work and activities of the Centre, and for this purpose, they shall have the right to undertake the following: 1. Approving the policies, strategies, legislations, and plans proposed by the Centre related to the field of statistical and Competitiveness work in the State, submitting them to the Cabinet for adoption, and supervising their implementation after adoption; 2. Adopting the general policy of the Centre and its strategic and operational plans; 3. Adopting the initiatives, events, and projects of the Centre and supervising their implementation; 4. Adopting the initiatives, programs, projects, studies, and recommendations related to the work and activities of the Centre; 5. Adopting the draft annual budget and final account of the Centre; 6. Adopting the organizational structure of the Centre; 7. Issuing the resolutions necessary for the proper functioning of the Centre; 8. Representing the Centre before third parties and governmental and non-governmental entities; 9. Any other powers or tasks assigned thereto by virtue of the laws, regulations, and resolutions issued by the Cabinet or its Chairman.

Article (12) Conducting a Statistical Survey 1. Government Entities may conduct a specialized Statistical Survey in their field of work for the purpose of collecting specific statistical Data and information, in accordance with the standards adopted by the Centre for this purpose. 2. The Centre may license non-governmental entities to conduct a Statistical Survey in accordance with the types, conditions, and controls specified by a resolution issued by the Minister. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of Clauses (1) and (2) of this Article, any of the licensed universities or educational and academic institutions in the State may conduct a specialized Statistical Survey related to their educational and academic activities, in accordance with the conditions and controls set by the Centre.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2020 Regarding the Establishment of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre 8

Article (13) Confidentiality of Statistical Data and Information 1. All statistical Data and information submitted to the Centre shall be deemed confidential, and it is not permissible for the Centre or any of its employees to allow any person or any public or private entity to access them, disclose them, or use them for any purpose other than statistical or Competitiveness work, unless it is made upon the request of the Competent Authorities in accordance with the legislation in force. 2. When publishing Statistical Information, the Centre shall be committed not to disclose any personal Data related to the Respondent, in order to preserve the confidentiality of such Data. 3. The Centre shall take all necessary measures to protect statistical Data and information, provided that they are collected and stored in places where security and safety conditions are met, in accordance with what is specified by a resolution from the Minister.

Article (15) A penalty of imprisonment for a period of not less than one year and a fine of not less than (AED 100,000) one hundred thousand dirhams, or by either of these two penalties, shall be imposed on: 1. Any person who discloses any confidential statistical Data, information, or Competitiveness reports referred to in this Decree by Law, or a secret from the secrets of

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Federal Decree by Law of 2020 Regarding the Establishment of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre 9 the various State sectors, which they have accessed by virtue of their work, in violation of the provisions of this Decree by Law. 2. Any person who intentionally retains any confidential Statistical Documents, Data, or information related to the State's Competitiveness or intentionally destroys or forges any Statistical Document or Competitiveness Questionnaire.

Article (16) A penalty of imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, and by a fine not exceeding (AED 150,000) one hundred and fifty thousand dirhams, or by either of these two penalties, shall be imposed on: 1. Any person who impersonates a Centre employee or any person entrusted with a task related to a census, Statistical Survey, or Competitiveness Questionnaires; 2. Any person who intentionally obstructs the works of a census, Statistical Survey, or Competitiveness Questionnaires. 3. Any person who intentionally provides misleading Data to any of the persons charged with conducting a census, Statistical Survey, or Competitiveness Questionnaires. 4. Any person who obtains, through any of the Centre's employees or from its records or registers, confidential statistical Data or information by means of fraud, threat, deception, or any other method in violation of the applicable legislation. 5. Any person who intentionally publishes or causes the publication of, incorrect statistics, census results, or results of Competitiveness reports or Questionnaires.

Article (20) Regularization of Status 1. The employees working at the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority shall be transferred to the Centre upon the entry into force of the provisions of this Decree by Law, and who are designated by a resolution from the Minister, with their same salaries and all their rights. Their employment status shall be regularized in accordance with the regulations and systems in force in the Ministry, and their period of service with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority shall be deemed continuous service in their work with the Centre. 2. All rights, appropriations, assets, and financial allocations prescribed for the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, as well as its obligations, shall be transferred to the Centre.