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UAE Corporate / Commercial LawLaw No. (3) of 2006 Establishing Dubai World

Dubai Law·3 of 2006

Issued Date
March 2, 2006
Effective from
March 2, 2006
Articles
18
Last synced
Jul 20, 2026
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Plain-language summary

Establishes Dubai World as a public corporation with legal personality and financial autonomy, affiliated to the Government of Dubai.

Synced from the official UAE Legislation portal · Plain-language summary by the LEXAI editorial team

Article-level text

Key Articles

18 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) This Law will be cited as “Law No. (3) of 2006 Establishing Dubai World”.

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Law, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise: Ruler: His Highness the Ruler of Dubai. Government: The Government of Dubai. DW: Dubai World. Chairman: The chairman of DW. Board of Directors: The board of directors of DW. Subsidiaries: The companies in which DW holds all or the majority of shares/stock.

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) A public corporation named “Dubai World” is hereby established and affiliated to the Government of Dubai. It will have legal personality, and financial and administrative autonomy. It may sue or be sued in its own name, and may appoint any person to represent ©2016 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai 1 Every effort has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text will prevail.

    -- 1 of 5 --

    Law No. (3) of 2006 Establishing Dubai World Page 2 of 5 it in any judicial proceedings in which it or any of its Subsidiaries is involved. DW will be managed on a commercial for-profit basis.

  4. 4

    Article 4

    Article (4) DW will: 1. invest in, establish, and manage commercial projects; 2. invest in, establish, and manage industrial projects; 3. invest in, establish, and manage agricultural projects; 4. invest in, sell, lease out, buy, manage, and develop real property and land, and engage in general contracting and maintenance business; 5. invest in all types of services projects; 6. invest in all financial business fields; 7. establish, manage, operate, and develop airports and seaports; 8. establish, manage, operate, and develop free zones, special industrial zones, and other zones; 9. audit, supervise, and coordinate the work of the Subsidiaries; and 10. conduct any other activities which the Chairman or the Board of Directors deems required for the achievement of the interests of DW.

  5. 5

    Article 5

    Article (5) DW will have the powers to: 1. cooperate, coordinate, and conclude agreements with local and international entities in its own name and on behalf of its Subsidiaries; 2. establish companies wholly owned by DW, hold shares in existing companies or in companies under incorporation, and assign any interests in any such companies; 3. finance its projects or those of any of the Subsidiaries through any financing options, including through borrowing or providing guarantees, through issuing bonds and shares to the public, through issuing Islamic bonds (sukuk) or Islamic partnership (Musharaka) sukuk, or through trading in any other financial instruments issued by any source it deems appropriate, and list such instruments in financial markets. For this purpose, DW may, and may authorise its Subsidiaries to, provide any financial security, concession, or guarantee or create any mortgage/ pledge to obtain such finance;

    -- 2 of 5 --

    Law No. (3) of 2006 Establishing Dubai World Page 3 of 5 4. purchase, own, sell, and lease out land, real property, and any other property; 5. sell and lease out land on behalf of the Government; 6. delegate any of its powers to the Subsidiaries or to third parties; 7. impose and collect fees in return for the services it provides; and 8. exercise any other powers which the Chairman or the Board of Directors deems required for the achievement of the interest of DW.

  6. 6

    Article 6

    Article (6) The financial resources of DW will consist of the net profits of its activities and those of the Subsidiaries, and any other revenue generated from its activities or the work it performs for the account of third parties.

  7. 7

    Article 7

    Article (7) The Chairman will supervise the work of DW and the Subsidiaries, and may exercise the powers of DW. The Chairman will, in particular: 1. supervise, audit, and coordinate the work of DW and the Subsidiaries; 2. develop the work plans and programmes of DW and the Subsidiaries; 3. prepare the draft budgets of DW and the Subsidiaries; 4. develop the administrative and financial regulations of DW and the Subsidiaries; 5. approve purchasing contracts, tenders, and projects of DW; 6. invest the property of DW in any financial products; 7. obtain finance and provide guarantees; 8. sell, purchase, and lease out land and other property; 9. endorse and draw any negotiable instruments such as cheques, bills of exchange, and promissory notes; 10. acquire intellectual property rights including rights in patents, trademarks, or industrial drawings and designs, and sublicense the same to the Subsidiaries or to other companies; 11. establish companies solely or with other persons, and own shares in any other company; and

    -- 3 of 5 --

    Law No. (3) of 2006 Establishing Dubai World Page 4 of 5 12. appoint senior staff members to DW.

  8. 8

    Article 8

    Article (8) A Chairman will be appointed to DW pursuant to a decree of the Ruler.

  9. 9

    Article 9

    Article (9) The Chairman will form the Board of Directors and determine its duties and terms of reference. He will be responsible for the executive management of DW and for the administration of its affairs in accordance with the bylaws and regulations of DW. The Chairman will represent DW in its dealings with third parties and before judicial authorities, and will, upon request, provide the Ruler with any data relating to DW and the Subsidiaries.

  10. 10

    Article 10

    Article (10) The head office of DW will be located in the Emirate of Dubai. DW may establish branches, offices, or agencies within or outside of the UAE.

  11. 11

    Article 11

    Article (11) The financial year of DW will commence on 1 January and will end on 31 December of each year, except that the first financial year will commence on the day on which this Law comes into force and will end on 31 December of the following year.

  12. 12

    Article 12

    Article (12) The net profits of DW and its Subsidiaries will be paid to the Government after deduction of the reserve amount determined by the Board of Directors.

  13. 13

    Article 13

    Article (13) DW and its Subsidiaries will be exempt from all fees and taxes, and from company registration fees.

  14. 14

    Article 14

    Article (14) An auditor from amongst audit firms licensed in the UAE will be appointed to DW by the Chairman or the Board of Directors for a renewable term of one (1) year.

    -- 4 of 5 --

    Law No. (3) of 2006 Establishing Dubai World Page 5 of 5

  15. 15

    Article 15

    Article (15) The Government will not be liable for any debts or obligations claimed from DW or its Subsidiaries.

  16. 16

    Article 16

    Article (16) Neither the Board of Directors, nor its chairman, nor any of its members will, in the course of managing DW and its operations, be liable to third parties for any act or omission in respect of such management. DW will be solely liable to third parties for such act or omission.

  17. 17

    Article 17

    Article (17) DW and its Subsidiaries will be exempt from compliance with the Instructions Issued on 6 February 1988 Concerning the Arbitration Clause in Contracts Concluded by the Government of Dubai and its Departments and Corporations, and with the Instructions Issued on 6 February 1988 Concerning the Contracts Concluded by the Government of Dubai and its Departments and Corporations, as amended on 15 March 1988.

  18. 18

    Article 18

    Article (18) This Law will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is published. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Ruler of Dubai Issued in Dubai on 2 March 2006 Corresponding to 2 Safar 1427 A.H.

    -- 5 of 5 --

Note: This legislation is sourced from the Dubai Legislation Portal (dlp.dubai.gov.ae). The original Arabic text is the authoritative version.

Articles in this law(18)
  1. 1Article (1) This Law will be cited as “Law No. (3) of 2006 Establishing Dubai Wo
  2. 2Article (2) The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Law,
  3. 3Article (3) A public corporation named “Dubai World” is hereby established and a
  4. 4Article (4) DW will: 1. invest in, establish, and manage commercial projects; 2.
  5. 5Article (5) DW will have the powers to: 1. cooperate, coordinate, and conclude a
  6. 6Article (6) The financial resources of DW will consist of the net profits of its
  7. 7Article (7) The Chairman will supervise the work of DW and the Subsidiaries, and
  8. 8Article (8) A Chairman will be appointed to DW pursuant to a decree of the Ruler
  9. 9Article (9) The Chairman will form the Board of Directors and determine its duti
  10. 10Article (10) The head office of DW will be located in the Emirate of Dubai. DW m
  11. 11Article (11) The financial year of DW will commence on 1 January and will end on
  12. 12Article (12) The net profits of DW and its Subsidiaries will be paid to the Gove
  13. 13Article (13) DW and its Subsidiaries will be exempt from all fees and taxes, and
  14. 14Article (14) An auditor from amongst audit firms licensed in the UAE will be app
  15. 15Article (15) The Government will not be liable for any debts or obligations clai
  16. 16Article (16) Neither the Board of Directors, nor its chairman, nor any of its me
  17. 17Article (17) DW and its Subsidiaries will be exempt from compliance with the Ins
  18. 18Article (18) This Law will be published in the Official Gazette and will come in
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