1
المادة 1
Article (1) Definitions In the implementation of provisions of this decree-law, and unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings cited against each: State : The United Arab Emirates (UAE). Government : The UAE Federal Government. Ministry : The Ministry of Finance. Minister : The Minister of Finance. Central Bank : The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates. Board of Directors : The Board of Directors of the Central Bank. Chairman : The Chairman of the Board of Directors. Governor : The Governor of the Central Bank. Public Sector : The Federal Government, governments of Union member emirates, and their fully owned authorities, and public institutions and companies, which provide public services and do not, primarily, carry on any activities relating to money and financial markets. Government- Related Entities : A juridical person wherein the Government, any of the governments of Union member emirates, or any of their respective subsidiaries, owns more than fifty percent (50%) of its capital. Financial Free Zones : Zones subject to the provisions of Federal Law No (8) of 2004, Regarding Financial Free Zones, and amending laws, or any law replacing it. Regulatory Authorities in the State : The Central Bank, the Securities and Commodities Authority. Licensed Financial Institutions : Banks, (Re)Insurance Companies, and Other Financial Institutions licensed in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof, to carry on a Licensed Financial Activity or more, including those
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Federal Decree by Law of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business 3 which carry on the whole or a part of their activities and business in accordance with the rules and principles of Islamic Shari`ah. These institutions shall be either incorporated inside the State or a branch or subsidiary inside the State of a financial institution incorporated outside the State or in Financial Free Zones. Banks : Any juridical person licensed in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof, to primarily carry on the activity of taking deposits in addition to any of the Licensed Financial Activities. Other Financial Institutions : Any Person, except Banks and (Re)Insurance Companies, licensed in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof, to carry on a Licensed Financial Activity or more. Islamic Financial Institutions : Banks, Takaful Insurance Companies, and Other Financial Institutions Licensed in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof, to carry on the whole or a part of their activities and business in accordance with the rules and principles of the Islamic Shari`ah. Higher Shari`ah Authority : The Authority referred to in Article (24) of this decree-law. Licensed Financial Activities : The financial activities subject to Central Bank licensing and supervision, which are specified in Article (61) of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof. Shari`ah- compliant Activities and Business : The activities and business conducted by an Islamic Financial Institution or any entity that falls under the mandate of the Higher Shari`ah Authority, in accordance with the rules and principles of Islamic Shari`ah. Designated Infrastructure : Any Financial Market Infrastructure designated by the Central Bank as systemically important, in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof.
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Federal Decree by Law of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business 4 Financial Market Infrastructure : A multilateral financial infrastructure system among Participant Persons, including the operator of the system, used for the purposes of clearing, settling or recording payments, securities, derivatives, or other financial transactions. Such Financial Market Infrastructure shall be established, operated, licensed or overseen by any of the Regulatory Authorities in the State. Settlement Institution : In respect of a Financial Market Infrastructure, means a Person who provides any of the following: 1. Settlement accounts to the Participant Persons and to any Central Counterparty in financial markets, within a Clearing and Settlement System, in order to settle Transfer Orders through such infrastructure, and may provide credit facilities for settlement purposes, if necessary. 2. Settlement services for any Retail or wholesale Payment System. Default Arrangements : In respect of a Financial Market Infrastructure, means the arrangements in place within such infrastructure to mitigate systemic and other types of risk, in the event of a Participant Person is unable, or likely to become unable to meet his obligations in respect of a Transfer Order. This includes any arrangements that have been enforced by such infrastructure’s operator or its Settlement Institution for any of the following: 1. Netting of obligations owed to or by a Participant Person. 2. Closing out of open financial position of a Participant Person. 3. Realization of collateral securities to secure payment of obligations owed by the Participant Person. Transfer Order : In respect of a Financial Market Infrastructure, shall mean any of the following: 1. Instructions by a Participant Person to place funds at the disposal of another Participant Person, to be transferred on a
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Federal Decree by Law of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business 5 book-entry basis, in the accounts of the Settlement Institution for a Clearing and Settlement System. 2. Instruction to place funds in another manner within the control of a Participant Person, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Financial Market Infrastructure. 3. Instructions for discharge from obligation to pay, for the purposes of the operational rules of a Clearing and Settlement System. 4. Instructions by a Participant Person to either settle an obligation by transferring a book-entry security, or transferring those securities. 5. Instructions by a Participant Person that result in the assumption or discharge of retail operations payment obligation. Participant Person : In respect of a Financial Market Infrastructure, means any Person who is party to the arrangements for which such infrastructure has been established. Designated Functions : Functions of the Authorized Individual at, or for the benefit of, a Licensed Financial Institution of influential nature on the institution’s activities. Authorized Individual : Any natural person authorized in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law, to carry on any of the Designated Functions. Resolution : Restructuring or liquidating any Licensed Financial Institution utilizing the powers of resolution referred to in Articles nos. (142) and (143) of this decree-law, for the purpose of continuing key functions of such institution, maintaining financial stability, and minimum costs for customers, Insured or Beneficiaries, as the case may be. Currency : The State’s official national currency in notes, coins, and digital form, units of which are referred to as the ‘Dirham’. Monetary Base : Includes the following:
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Federal Decree by Law of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business 6 1. Issued Currency. 2. Aggregate balances of current accounts and deposits of Licensed Financial Institutions with the Central Bank, including Reserve Requirements, in addition to any other funds deposited with the Central Bank for the purpose of clearing and settlement operations. 3. Outstanding balance of securities and financial instruments issued by the Central Bank. Reserve Requirements : The percentage of qualified liabilities held by deposit-taking Licensed Financial Institutions, which the Central Bank may decide to keep with it, as per the terms and conditions it may determine. Foreign Reserves : Foreign assets held by the Central Bank denominated in any foreign reserve currency and deployed to back its liabilities. Virtual Assets : A digital representation of value or of rights that can be transferred and stored electronically using distributed ledger technology, excluding Currency issued in digital form. Clearing and Settlement System : Any system established for any of the following purposes: 1. Clearing or settlement of payment obligations. 2. Clearing or settlement of obligations to transfer specific book- entry securities, or transfer of such securities. Netting : In respect of a Clearing and Settlement System, and for the purpose of this decree-law, means the conversion of the various obligations owed to or by a Participant Person towards all other Participant Persons in the system, into one net obligation owed to or by the Participant Person. Retail Payment System : Any fund transfer system and related instruments, mechanisms, and arrangements that typically handles a large volume of relatively low-value payments in such forms as cheques, credit transfers, direct debit, or card payment transactions.
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Federal Decree by Law of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business 7 Insurance Company (Insurer) : Any juridical person, licensed in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof to carry on insurance business and activities in the State. Reinsurance Company : Any juridical person licensed in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof to carry on reinsurance business and activities. Takaful Insurance : A scheme intended to achieve solidarity and cooperation among a group of participants to address certain risks, whereas each participant makes a contribution to the Takaful Insurance Fund, based on the concept of ‘Tabaru’. Such fund bears the responsibility of paying compensation to those entitled to it in the event that specific risks materialize. Takaful Insurance Company : An Insurance Company that carries on insurance business and activities in accordance with the rules and principles of Islamic Shari`ah, and this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof. Takaful Insurance Fund : A Fund that is established by a (Re)Takaful Insurance Company or an Insurance Company licensed to carry on Takaful insurance business and activities in accordance with the rules and principles of Islamic Shari`ah, and this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof. Insured : A Person that enters into an Insurance Policy with an Insurance Company for their benefit, the benefit of the named Insured, or for the benefit of the Beneficiary. Beneficiary : In respect of an Insurance Company, a Person who initially acquired the rights of an Insurance Policy or to whom such rights are legally transferred. Insurance Policy : A contract between an Insurance Company and an Insured setting out the insurance terms, rights and obligations of both contracting parties or the rights of the insurance Beneficiary. The
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Federal Decree by Law of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business 8 annexes attached to such policy constitute an integral part thereof. Premium : In respect of an Insurance Company, a financial consideration paid or payable by the Insured under the Insurance Policy and is called ‘Contribution’ in Takaful Insurance. Insurance Broker : A juridical person licensed in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof, and acts as independent intermediary in insurance and reinsurance business and services between an insurance or reinsurance applicant on one side and any (Re)Insurance Company on the other side, and receives for its efforts commission from the company with which the insurance or reinsurance has been concluded. Insurance Agent : A Person licensed or authorized in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof, and approved by the Insurance Company to carry on insurance business and services on its behalf. Technical Provisions : In respect of an Insurance Company, provisions which the Insurance Company shall deduct and retain to cover accrued financial obligations vis-à-vis the Insured or Beneficiaries, pursuant to the provisions of this decree-law. Insurance-Related Professions : Professions carried on by any Person licensed in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law, and the regulations issued in implementation thereof, such as an Insurance Agent, Insurance Broker, surveyor and loss adjuster, insurance consultant, Actuary, health insurance third party administrators, or any other profession related to insurance as determined by the Central Bank. Solvency Margin : In respect of an Insurance Company, a surplus in the value of actual assets over its liabilities to such an extent that enables it to
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Federal Decree by Law of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business 9 fulfil all its obligations and pay the required insurance claims when due, without impeding its business or weakening its financial position. Actuary : In respect of an Insurance Company, a Person licensed or authorized in accordance with the provisions of this decree-law and the regulations issued in implementation thereof, to determine the value and price of Insurance Policies, and to assess the Technical Provisions, accounts and all matters related thereto. Grievances and Appeals Committee : The committee referred to in Article (167) of this decree-law. Person : A natural or juridical person, as the case may be. Year : The Gregorian calendar year.
