Skip to main content
Law

General UAE Legal Questions LawLaw No. (14) of 2011

Dubai Law·14 of 2011

Issued Date
August 1, 2011
Effective from
August 1, 2011
Articles
5
Last synced
Jul 20, 2026
Download PDFOfficial source

Plain-language summary

Establishes the Dubai International Financial Centre as an autonomous financial free zone with administrative independence, affiliated to the UAE government, an…

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

Article-level text

Key Articles

5 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) Articles (3) and (5)bis of the Original Law are hereby superseded by the following:

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) Any provision in any other legislation will be repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Law.

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) This Law comes into force on the day on which it is issued, and will be published in the Official Gazette. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Ruler of Dubai Issued in Dubai on 1 August 2011 Corresponding to 1 Ramadan 1432 A.H.

    -- 3 of 3 --

  4. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) 1. The financial free zone established in the Emirate of Dubai and named the Dubai International Financial Centre (the “DIFC”) will have financial and administrative autonomy, and will be affiliated to the Government. 2. The DIFC will have a President appointed pursuant to a decree of the Ruler. 3. The following bodies are hereby established within the DIFC: a. the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (the "DIFCA"); b. the Dubai Financial Services Authority (the "DFSA"); and c. the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts. 4. The DIFC will maintain registers for registering companies, real property transactions, commercial transactions, and any other transactions. These include, without limitation, ©2019 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai 1Every 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 3 --

    Law No. (14) of 2011 Amending Law No. (9) of 2004 Concerning the Dubai International Financial Centre Page 2 of 3 a register of real property, a register of security interest, and a register of companies. These registers will be created and regulated in accordance with the DIFC Laws. 5. The DIFC will have a Higher Board chaired by the President and comprised of members experienced and qualified, locally and internationally, in financial services, banking, insurance, and securities markets. These members will be appointed pursuant to a decree of the Ruler, and will include the Governor and the chairmen of the boards of directors of the bodies referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article. 6. The President will supervise and coordinate among the bodies mentioned in this Article. This will include forming boards of directors and advisory committees without prejudice to the autonomy of the DIFC Bodies. 7. The Higher Board will convene at the invitation of its chairman at least four (4) times a year or where necessary. The President will determine the duties and terms of reference of this board. 8. The Higher Board may invite any person it deems appropriate to attend its meetings, and may seek assistance and the opinion of any qualified and experienced entity or person.

  5. 5

    Article 5

    Article (5)bis 1. The Governor will be appointed and his services will be terminated pursuant to a decree of the Ruler upon the recommendation of the President. 2. The President will determine the employment conditions, entitlements, and financial rights of the Governor. 3. Without prejudice to the autonomy of the DIFC Bodies stipulated in the DIFC Laws and DIFC Regulations, the Governor will have the duties and powers to: a. propose the strategies, policies, and objectives of the DIFC, and submit these to the Higher Board for approval and implementation follow-up; b. establish specialised committees and work teams that will provide the consultation required for achievement of the objectives of the DIFC; c. in consultation with the DIFC Bodies, enter into agreements, contracts, and memoranda of understanding with third parties, whether inside or outside of the UAE, with a view to achieving the objectives of the DIFC and regulating its operations; d. under the conditions he deems appropriate, appoint experts and specialists to provide support and consultation; and e. exercise any other duties or powers assigned to him by the President, except for the duties and powers vested in the President.

    -- 2 of 3 --

    Law No. (14) of 2011 Amending Law No. (9) of 2004 Concerning the Dubai International Financial Centre Page 3 of 3 4. The Governor may not hold any job or conduct any activity in addition to his post where such job or activity conflicts with the objectives and policies of the DIFC. This prohibition will not apply to performing the duties of any post or job assigned to him by the Ruler or the President.

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

Reading shortcut

Ask LEXAI a question about 14 of 2011.

Plain-English answers, with a citation back to the exact article. Free to use, no sign-up.

LEXAI provides general legal information, not legal advice. For your specific case, speak to a licensed UAE lawyer.

Keep reading

General

Lawyer Marketing in the UAE: A Practical Guide for Solo and Small Firms

A practical, compliance-first guide to lawyer marketing in the UAE — directory listings, content and search, referrals, Google Business, and social media — built for solo practitioners and small firms who want to be found and contacted directly.

9 min read

General

SEO for Lawyers in the UAE: A Practical Guide for Solo & Small Firms

A practical, advocacy-compliant SEO guide for UAE solo practitioners and small law firms: local SEO, Google Business Profile, the keywords clients actually search, content, and free directory listings.

9 min read

General

Law Firm vs Solo Lawyer in the UAE: How to Choose

Confused between a UAE law firm (maktab muhamah) and a solo advocate? Learn how firms are licensed, when a large firm helps, when a specialist solo is the smarter choice, and how cost and access differ.

8 min read