UAE Environmental / ESG LawLaw No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority

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: UAE: The United Arab Emirates. Emirate: The Emirate of Dubai. Ruler: His Highness the Ruler of Dubai. Government: The Government of Dubai. Executive Council: The Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai. DM: The Dubai Municipality. DECCA: The Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority, established pursuant to this Law. Director General: The director general of the DECCA. Local Entity: Any of the Government departments; public agencies and corporations; councils; authorities, including the authorities supervising Special Development Zones and free zones, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre; companies owned by the Government or Government Entities, or in which the Government or Government Entities hold shares; or other entities affiliated to the Government. Environment: The biosphere, where life exists in various forms, comprising Natural Elements and Man-made Elements. Natural Elements: These include all living things, such as humans, animals, plants, and other living organisms; natural resources, such as air, water, soil, and organic and inorganic materials; and natural habitats. Man-made Elements: These include everything introduced by humans into the natural Environment, including fixed and non-fixed structures, such as roads, bridges, airports, and means of transportation, as well as the industries, innovations, and technologies developed in connection with these elements.

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 4 of 14 Environment Protection: Preserving the components, properties, and natural balance of the Environment; preventing, reducing, or controlling pollution; preserving Natural Resources and rationalising their consumption; protecting the organisms living in the Environment, especially endangered species; and developing and improving these components. Climate Change: The long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, whether these shifts are the result of natural or human activities. Climate Change Mitigation: Reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from human activities and causing global warming, which contribute to Climate Change. Climate Change Adaptation: The readiness of establishments, infrastructure systems, economic activities, services, and various facilities, which ensures their resilience against the anticipated risks and negative impacts of Climate Change. Steering Committee: The committee formed pursuant to the provisions of this Law to ensure the smooth transition of functions, powers, responsibilities, budgets, and Employees to the DECCA. Establishment of the DECCA

Article (5) The DECCA aims to: 1. ensure Environment Protection, preserve the quality and natural balance of the Environment, and maintain the sustainability of the biological systems and Natural Resources of the Emirate; 2. contribute to the conservation of the Natural Resources, fish stock, and fishery resources; to the maintenance of biodiversity and its sustainability in the UAE; and to the optimal utilisation of these resources for the benefit of present and future generations; 3. support decision makers in formulating development policies and planning processes, and in measuring strategic performance, with a view to ensuring Environment Protection and combating Climate Change, mitigating its effects, and adapting thereto; 4. ensure the sustainability of the Environment, its living and non-living Natural Resources, and its ecosystem services; 5. contribute to achieving, in coordination with the concerned entities, the Emirate's sustainable development objectives in all areas related to the DECCA’s functions; 6. promote the principles of green economy and circular economy, reduce the ecological and carbon footprint of the Emirate, and optimise the utilisation of its local resources; 7. enhance food security in the Emirate and support local production; 8. contribute to the implementation of the principles and requirements of environmental health, with a view to protecting human health against hazards; and 9. contribute to ensuring compliance with the international environmental conventions and treaties to which the UAE is a party. Functions of the DECCA

Article (6) The DECCA is the competent official entity in charge of all matters related to developing, approving, and managing the plans, policies, and strategies related to Climate Change, Environment Protection, and food security within the Emirate, including in Special Development Zones and free zones, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre. In particular, the DECCA will, in coordination with the concerned entities in the Emirate, where applicable, have the duties and powers to:

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 6 of 14 1. develop the regulatory frameworks and guidelines required for implementing environmental governance, with a view to ensuring the optimal implementation of sustainability procedures and activities; 2. launch environmental research projects and studies aimed at preserving the Environment and ensuring the sustainability of its resources; and develop innovative solutions to environmental issues; 3. prepare and develop the policies, and manage and follow up the plans, required for Climate Change Adaptation; 4. formulate and develop a Climate Change Mitigation policy; develop the targets, initiatives, and programmes required for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving climate neutrality; follow up the implementation of these, targets, initiatives, and programmes; and submit the relevant periodic reports to the Executive Council; 5. prepare, develop, manage, and follow up the policies and requirements for licensing Groundwater Basins and Groundwater wells in the Emirate and maintaining the Groundwater reserves and quality; establish the requirements and conditions for using or extracting Groundwater from wells, and for deepening, widening, or altering Groundwater wells; issue the relevant permits and oversee, supervise, and monitor the same in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate with a view to ensuring their optimal and sustainable use; 6. develop the policies related to sewerage, surface water, and reclaimed water in the Emirate; and preserve surface water and reclaimed water and develop the required manuals and frameworks to ensure their safety, in line with the relevant quality assurance requirements and with a view to ensuring their optimal utilisation and achieving the highest levels of quality of life and best environmental performance, in accordance with the best international standards adopted in this respect; 7. prepare, develop, manage, and follow up the policies, legislation, plans, and guidelines supporting the development and implementation of policies and plans for the protection of Nature Reserves, and for the conservation of marine and terrestrial fauna and flora biodiversity and ecosystems therein, as well as Natural Resources, including air and soil quality, biodiversity, and the development of Nature Reserves and all water resources, with a view to ensuring effective management of these reserves and resources;

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 7 of 14 8. establish, manage, operate, develop, and supervise Nature Reserves in the Emirate; conduct specialised surveys and studies; implement the necessary projects; and issue the regulatory and administrative rules that ensure their sustainability and development; 9. develop general policies for Waste Management in the Emirate; and propose the legislation, specifications, and manuals supporting these policies, with a view to minimising Waste production and enhancing recycling, Waste sorting, and shifting away from landfilling; 10. develop a general policy for greening and horticulture in the Emirate, and propose and prepare the legislation, specifications, and manuals supporting horticulture and afforestation, with a view to enhancing the environmental performance of green and horticultural spaces; 11. develop, and supervise the implementation of, environmental health policies in the Emirate, with a view to preserving human health; 12. prepare, develop, and manage the food security strategy in the Emirate in line with the national food security strategy, including identifying key products and the rate of their local consumption, food production and processing capacity, and nutritional requirements, with a view to ensuring sustainable local production; facilitating global food trade; diversifying food import sources; developing alternative supply plans; and following up and supervising their implementation by the concerned entities in the Emirate; 13. protect agricultural, animal, and fishery production in the Emirate; and minimise the risk of epidemics, animal and zoonotic diseases, and pests; 14. regulate, license, and support local agricultural, animal, and fishery production projects; 15. develop the plans and strategies required for countering environmental risks, emergencies, crises, and disasters; combating environmental degradation and pollution, and managing natural factors and their impacts, in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate; 16. establish an environmental monitoring system; develop and operate environmental monitoring networks; and implement the actions, measures, plans, and strategies that ensure Environment Protection and prevent exceeding the permitted limits of environmental pollutants; 17. conduct periodic surveys of the environmental impacts resulting from the exploration, extraction, and exploitation of oil and gas within production fields and within land and maritime transport routes; 18. combat various forms of pollution; prevent any short-term or long-term negative effects resulting from economic, agricultural, animal, aquatic, industrial, and urban development

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 8 of 14 plans and programmes, or any other development programmes aimed at improving the quality of life; and coordinate with the concerned federal entities to ensure Environment Protection, preserve the quality and natural balance of the Environment, and instil environmental awareness and pollution control principles; 19. protect the marine, terrestrial, and atmospheric Environments in the Emirate from Pollution and depletion; preserve the sustainability of Natural Resources, fishery resources, and wildlife; and develop and propose the relevant supporting policies, legislation, and manuals; 20. protect the coastal areas, beaches, creeks, lakes, canals, waterways, and dams in the Emirate; and establish the necessary environmental controls to ensure the preservation of their ecological properties; 21. regulate and license maritime and coastal projects with environmental impact, as well as the projects built on waterways in the Emirate; and supervise and monitor their implementation; 22. develop regulatory controls and environmental permits and grant environmental approvals for infrastructure projects; construction projects; facilities; industrial, service, and development activities; and other projects, facilities, and activities with environmental impact, based on the relevant Environmental Impact Assessment of the same; and monitor the compliance of these projects, facilities, and activities with the regulations and standards stipulated in the legislation in force in the Emirate; 23. issue permits, approvals, and no-objection certificates for the activities related to the Environment; 24. evaluate the impact of population growth; infrastructure projects; and urban development and expansion on the Environment and on wildlife; and contribute to planning these projects in collaboration with the competent entities to ensure the preservation of the Environment and wildlife; 25. grant permits to establishments and corporations to conduct the activities of acquisition, raising, care, and trade of livestock and pets; to provide therapeutic and preventive veterinary services in the Emirate; and to conduct other agricultural, animal, and fishery activities, and supervise and monitor the business of these establishments and corporations; 26. monitor the acquisition of all types of animals and deal with lost and stray animals; 27. regulate the exploitation of soil in the Emirate, with a view to ensuring its rational use; and oversee and monitor such use;

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 9 of 14 28. monitor and oversee environmentally significant or sensitive areas and sites, such as wetlands, coral reefs, Nature Reserves, public parks, and similar areas and sites; 29. raise community awareness of environmental sustainability and of the practices that are detrimental to the Environment; 30. manage, develop, and periodically measure environmental performance indicators; 31. manage, organise, and disseminate environmental data throughout the Emirate in accordance with the legislation in force; 32. provide, in coordination with the competent entities in the Emirate, opinion on draft local and federal legislation and international protocols, treaties, and conventions that fall within the functions of the DECCA under this Law; 33. own and take lease of the real property, movables, equipment, devices, and other assets required for performing the functions and work of the DECCA; and manage and use these assets in accordance with the international best practices; 34. establish, solely or in partnership with other persons, companies and corporations to implement the projects and programmes supporting the performance by the DECCA of its functions, in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate; 35. ensure that its services are integrated and coordinated with the services of the public sector and private sector, and are aligned with its approved plans and projects; 36. organise, and participate in, local and international events and conferences in the fields related to the functions of the DECCA; and 37. exercise any other duties or powers assigned to it by the Ruler or the Chairman of the Executive Council. Outsourcing the DECCA Functions

Article (7) With the exception of the powers, functions, and responsibilities vested in it in respect of establishing and preparing the policies, legislation, and manuals that fall within its functions under this Law, the DECCA may outsource, in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate, any of its powers, functions, and responsibilities under this Law to any public or private entity pursuant to an agreement concluded with that entity in this respect. This agreement will determine the rights and obligations of the DECCA and the contracted entity as well as the

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 10 of 14 conditions, requirements, and specifications that the entity must observe when performing the functions outsourced to it by the DECCA. Executive Body of the DECCA

Article (10) a. The Director General will supervise the work and activities of the DECCA; manage its affairs; and represent it in its relations with third parties. For these purposes, the Director General will have the duties and powers to: 1. propose, in coordination with the competent entities in the Emirate, the general policy and the strategic and development plans of the DECCA; present the same to the Executive Council for approval; and follow up their implementation; 2. propose policies, strategies, and initiatives in support of Environment Protection and combating Climate Change; review them in consultation with the competent entities in the Emirate; and submit the same to the Executive Council for approval;

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 11 of 14 3. approve the initiatives, programmes, projects, studies, and recommendations that are related to the work and activities of the DECCA, and that enable it to achieve its objectives; 4. approve and review the work plans and programmes of the DECCA, and assess their applicability on an annual basis; 5. prepare the draft annual budget and Financial Statements of the DECCA, and present the same to the competent entities in the Emirate for approval; 6. submit periodic reports to the Executive Council on the implementation of the approved general policies, strategies, and initiatives; and on the performance indicators and programmes related to implementation of the strategic plans of the Emirate, in relation to Environment Protection and combating Climate Change; as well as annual performance reports on the work and activities of the DECCA; 7. supervise the daily work and the personnel of the DECCA, and appoint the technical and administrative staff required to perform the work of the DECCA in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate; 8. propose the organisational structure of the DECCA, and submit the same to the competent entities in the Emirate for approval in accordance with the legislation in force; 9. approve the bylaws and resolutions regulating the administrative, financial, and technical work of the DECCA; 10. propose fees and charges for the services provided by the DECCA, and submit the same to the competent entities in the Emirate for approval; 11. conclude contracts, agreements, and memoranda of understanding in the fields related to the achievement of the DECCA objectives and enabling it to perform its duties and functions; 12. form specialised permanent and temporary committees and work teams, and determine their duties and functions; and 13. exercise any other duties or powers assigned to him by the Ruler or the Chairman of the Executive Council, as required for the achievement of the DECCA objectives and for enabling it to exercise its duties and powers. b. The Director General may delegate any of his duties and powers under paragraph (a) of this Article to any of the executive directors/ chief executive officers, or any of the other Employees, of the DECCA, provided that such delegation is specific and in writing.

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 12 of 14 Financial Resources of the DECCA

Article (14) a. As of the date on which this Law comes into force, the following will be transferred from the DM to the DECCA: 1. all the duties and functions vested in the DM and its affiliated agencies under the legislation in force in the Emirate in respect of the regulatory matters that fall within the functions of the DECCA under this Law. The Steering Committee will determine the entities,

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 13 of 14 organisational units, functions, powers, duties, and responsibilities related to the regulatory matters to be transferred to the DECCA; 2. the ownership of the real property, movables, assets, devices, equipment, and other property of the DM and its affiliated agencies that are relevant to the functions of the DECCA under this Law; 3. the Employees of the DM working at the organisational units performing the powers and functions assigned to the DECCA under this Law, and the Employees to be transferred to the DECCA upon mutual agreement with the DM as well as the financial appropriations allocated to these Employees by the Department of Finance, in accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned Law No. (1) of 2016 and Decree No. (60) of 2023, and other legislation in force in the Emirate and without prejudice to their existing rights; and 4. the financial appropriations allocated by the Department of Finance, in the annual budget of the DM, for the activities and functions to be performed by the DECCA under this Law and other legislation in force in the Emirate. b. The functions, powers, and responsibilities vested, under the legislation in force, in the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority PJSC, the Supreme Council of Energy, the Dubai Food Security Committee, and the Committee Regulating the Fishing of Living Aquatic Organisms, in respect of all regulatory matters assigned to the DECCA under this Law, are hereby transferred to the DECCA. Furthermore, the annual financial appropriations allocated to these entities in their annual budgets, excluding the annual financial appropriations of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority PJSC and of the Supreme Council of Energy, will be transferred to the DECCA. c. Pursuant to a resolution of the Chairman of the Executive Council, the Steering Committee will be formed to supervise compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Article. The DM and the entities referred to in paragraph (b) of this Article will, as of the effective date of this Law and until completion of the mandate of the Steering Committee, continue to exercise their duties and powers in respect of the matters assigned to the DECCA under this Law. d. As of the date on which the Steering Committee completes its mandate under paragraph (c) of this Article, the DECCA will succeed to all the rights and obligations of the DM and the entities referred to in paragraph (b) of this Article in respect of the functions, powers, and responsibilities transferred to the DECCA under this Law.

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Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority Page 14 of 14 Compliance