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General UAE Legal Questions LawLaw No. (20) of 2023

Dubai Law·20 of 2023

Issued Date
October 31, 2023
Effective from
Not stated in this law
Articles
8
Last synced
Sep 21, 2026
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Plain-language summary

Establishes Dubai Government's medium-term budget framework for financial years 2024 to 2026, totaling AED 246.561 billion, with expenditure allocation rules fo…

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

Article-level text

Key Articles

8 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) a. The General Budget of the Government of Dubai will be planned and approved according to a medium-term budget cycle of three (3) Financial Years. ©2023 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.

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    Law No. (20) of 2023 Approving the General Budget Cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 and the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024 Page 2 of 8 b. The General Budget cycle of the Government of Dubai will integrate strategic and financial planning by providing the funding required to implement the Government plans, initiatives, and projects to be implemented in the Emirate of Dubai. c. The approved annual General Budget of the Government of Dubai will constitute part of the General Budget cycle. d. The General Budget cycle of the Government of Dubai will be updated and developed annually through coordination between the Department of Finance and other Government Entities in the Emirate of Dubai, with a view to achieving financial efficiency and effectiveness. General Budget Cycle Estimates

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) a. The expenditure of the General Budget cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 is estimated at two hundred and forty-six billion five hundred and sixty- one million dirhams (AED 246,561,000,000.00). b. The revenue of the General Budget cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 is estimated at two hundred and ninety-one billion one hundred and sixty-one million dirhams (AED 291,161,000,000.00). c. The general reserve to be retained by deduction from the Public Revenue of the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 is estimated at twenty billion and six hundred million dirhams (AED 20,600,000,000.00). General Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) a. The expenditure of the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024 is estimated at seventy-nine billion one hundred and thirty-one million dirhams (AED 79,131,000,000.00). b. The revenue of the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024 is estimated at ninety billion six hundred and thirty-one million dirhams (AED 90,631,000,000.00). c. The general reserve to be retained from the Public Revenue of the Financial Year 2024 is estimated at five billion five hundred million dirhams (AED 5,500,000,000.00).

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    Law No. (20) of 2023 Approving the General Budget Cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 and the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024 Page 3 of 8 d. The Government of Dubai General Budget surplus for the Financial Year 2024 is estimated at six billion dirhams (AED 6,000,000,000.00). Allocation of Estimated Expenditure and Revenue

  4. 4

    Article 4

    Article (4) a. The estimated expenditure and revenue of the General Budget cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 will be allocated as indicated in Schedule (1) attached to this Law. b. The estimated expenditure and revenue for the Financial Year 2024 will be allocated as indicated in Schedule (2) attached to this Law. Obligations of Government Entities

  5. 5

    Article 5

    Article (5) A Government Entity which is subject to the General Budget must comply with the following rules and regulations: I. Salaries and Wages 1. not exceed the maximum number of posts stated in the approved budget of the Government Entity; 2. not exceed the financial appropriations allocated to the respective posts in the approved budget of the Government Entity; 3. comply with the provisions of the above-mentioned Law No. (8) of 2018, the resolutions issued in pursuance thereof, and other legislation regulating human resources in respect of all matters related to salaries, promotions, bonuses, increments, and allowances; and 4. where the Government Entity is subject to the General Budget and its Employees are not governed by the above-mentioned Law No. (8) of 2018, coordinate with the Department of Finance in case of making any amendments, that have financial impact, to its human resources regulations. II. Operating Expenses 1. implement expenditure control programmes based on an annual plan approved and implemented for this purpose, and inform the Department of Finance of this plan and the outcomes of its implementation;

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    Law No. (20) of 2023 Approving the General Budget Cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 and the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024 Page 4 of 8 2. avoid excessive acquisition of fixed assets; prepare a plan for replacement and replenishment of these assets in line with the approved budget; and conduct feasibility studies on the acquisition of assets, taking into consideration the available stock of goods and materials; and 3. not incur long-term obligations without first coordinating with the Department of Finance. III. Construction Projects 1. spend only on the approved construction projects included in its approved budget; and 2. not make any variations to the cost of approved construction projects without first obtaining the relevant approval of the Department of Finance. IV. General Provisions 1. not exceed the financial appropriations approved for the Government Entity pursuant to this Law; and not enter into commitments or incur obligations that are beyond the approved budget; 2. comply with the provisions of the above-mentioned Law No. (1) of 2016 and Executive Council Resolution No. (5) of 2021; and with the resolutions, circulars, ground rules, instructions, and guidelines issued in pursuance thereof, particularly in respect of obtaining the approval of the Director General of the Department of Finance or his authorised representative prior to reallocating funds across budget chapters; 3. comply with the provisions of the above-mentioned Law No. (12) of 2020, particularly in respect of variation orders; 4. perform the financial commitments made during the Financial Year 2023 out of the budget savings of the Financial Year 2024, provided that these commitments are made within the approved budget of the Government Entity; and 5. comply with the relevant resolutions, circulars, ground rules, instructions, and directives issued by the Department of Finance concerning implementation of the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024, even if these resolutions, circulars, ground rules, instructions, or directives contradict any provisions stipulated in the above-mentioned Law No. (8) of 2018, the resolutions issued in pursuance thereof, or the applicable legislation governing the human resources of the Government Entity where its Employees are not governed by the provisions of the above-mentioned Law No. (8) of 2018.

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    Law No. (20) of 2023 Approving the General Budget Cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 and the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024 Page 5 of 8 Issuing Implementing Resolutions

  6. 6

    Article 6

    Article (6) The Director General of the Department of Finance, or his authorised representative, will issue the resolutions, circulars, ground rules, instructions, and directives required for the implementation of the provisions of this Law. Repeals

  7. 7

    Article 7

    Article (7) The above-mentioned Law No. (23) of 2022 is hereby repealed. Any provision in any other legislation is also hereby repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Law. Commencement and Publication

  8. 8

    Article 8

    Article (8) This Law comes into force on 1 January 2024, and will be published in the Official Gazette. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Ruler of Dubai Issued in Dubai on 31 October 2023 Corresponding to 16 Rabi al-Thani 1445 A.H

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    Law No. (20) of 2023 Approving the General Budget Cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 and the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024 Page 6 of 8 Schedule (1) Allocation of Estimated Expenditure and Revenue for the General Budget Cycle for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 Descriptio n Financial Year (in dirhams) Total (in dirhams) 2024 2025 2026 Estimated Revenue 90,631,000,000. 00 98,880,000,000. 00 101,650,000,000. 00 291,161,000,000. 00 General Reserve 5,500,000,000.0 0 7,160,000,000.0 0 7,940,000,000.00 20,600,000,000.0 0 Estimated Expenditur e 79,131,000,000. 00 83,720,000,000. 00 83,710,000,000.0 0 246,561,000,000. 00

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    Law No. (20) of 2023 Approving the General Budget Cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 and the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024 Page 7 of 8 Schedule (2) Allocation of Estimated Expenditure and Revenue for the Financial Year 2024 Description Approved Budget 2024 (in dirhams) Percentage I. Estimated Government Revenue Foreign Bank Branches Tax 500,000,000.00 1% Customs Duties 7,327,000,000.00 8% Value Added Tax, Excise Tax, and Corporate Tax 13,220,000,000.00 14% Fees and Fines 50,586,000,000.00 56% Returns on Government Investments 15,148,000,000.00 17% Oil Revenue 3,850,000,000.00 4% Total Estimated Government Revenue 90,631,000,000.00 100% General Reserve 5,500,000,000.00 Total Estimated Government Revenue after Retention of General Reserve 85,131,000,000.00 II. Estimated Government Expenditure Salaries and Wages 20,790,000,000.00 26% General and Administrative Expenses 18,645,000,000.00 24% Grants and Government Support 18,137,000,000.00 23% Capital Expenditure 3,109,000,000.00 4% Public Debt Service 5,950,000,000.00 7% Construction Projects 6,500,000,000.00 8%

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    Law No. (20) of 2023 Approving the General Budget Cycle of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Years 2024 to 2026 and the General Budget of the Government of Dubai for the Financial Year 2024 Page 8 of 8 Special Reserve 6,000,000,000.00 8% Total Estimated Government Expenditure 79,131,000,000.00 100%

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

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