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In effectFederal Law

UAE Environmental / ESG LawFederal Law No. (8) of 2021 on Access to Genetic Resources and their Derivatives and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Originating from their Utilization

UAE Federal Law·Federal Law No. (8) of 2021

قانون اتحادي في شأن الحصول على الموارد الوراثية ومشتقاتها والتقاسم العادل والمنصف للمنافع الناشئة عن استخدامها

Authoritative Arabic version per the official UAE Legislation portal

Issued Date
April 29, 2021
Effective from
April 30, 2021
Articles
17
Last synced
Jul 20, 2026

Plain-language summary

  • Controls who can access UAE's genetic resources like plants, animals, and microorganisms.
  • Requires fair sharing of profits when genetic resources are used commercially or in research.
  • Applies to companies, researchers, and organizations using UAE genetic material domestically or internationally.
  • Establishes permit system: users must get approval before accessing or using genetic resources.
  • Protects traditional knowledge of local communities linked to genetic resources and their uses.

Regulates access to genetic resources and their derivatives in the UAE, establishing frameworks for fair and equitable benefit-sharing from their utilization an…

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

Article-level text

Key Articles

17 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) Definitions For applying the provisions of this Law, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned thereto respectively, unless otherwise required by the context: The State : The United Arab Emirates. The Ministry : The Ministry Climate Change and Environment. The Minister : The Minister Climate Change and Environment. The Competent Department : The Ministry's Department responsible for supervising and following up on implementing the provisions of this Law and its Executive Regulations and the resolutions issued in implementation hereof. The Competent Authority : The domestic entity in charge of the management affairs of genetic resources and their derivatives and fair and equitable sharing of benefits originating from their utilization. Conventional and Heritage : The accumulation of knowledge and practices across the succeeding generations in the State and which are of a necessary social and economic

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    Federal Law No. (8) of 2021 on Access to Genetic Resources and their Derivatives and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Originating from their Utilization 3 Knowledge and Practices value for preserving and utilizing the genetic resources. Genetic Resources : Any substances of a plant or animal origin, microorganisms or other assets, which contain genes-bearing units and are of an actual or potential value. Derivatives : Naturally occurring chemical and biological compounds that originate from gene expression or metabolism of biological or genetic resources, even if they do not have functional genetic units. Innovations : Getting access to groundbreaking or unprecedented knowledge or technologies or developing current knowledge or technologies by way of accumulation, compilation or use of the properties, value, upbringing or inference of any genetic substances. Access to Genetic Resources : Taking possession and collection of genetic resources or their derivatives or their associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations for the purpose of collecting and preserving the genetic resource, conducting academic research, commercial utilization or exploitation or for any other purpose. Benefit Sharing Agreement : An agreement signed by the Ministry, the Competent Authority and the Person wishing to get access to genetic resources, whereby the obligations of the parties, the conditions regulating access to the genetic resources, the benefits originating from the utilization of genetic resources or their derivatives and associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations are all determined. The Person : The natural or legal person. Utilization of Genetic Resources and their Derivatives : The utilization and circulation of genetic resources or their derivatives and associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations.

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    Federal Law No. (8) of 2021 on Access to Genetic Resources and their Derivatives and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Originating from their Utilization 4 Import : Bringing into the State any genetic resources or their derivatives or associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations. Export : Taking out of the any genetic resources or their derivatives or associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations.

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) Objectives of the Law This Law shall aim to: 1. Protect, preserve, reduce depletion, ensure sustainability of, and regulate access to and circulation of the genetic resources, in order to contribute to the maintenance and sustainability of biodiversity in the State. 2. Ensure fair and equitable shares of the benefits originating from the utilization of genetic resources or their derivatives and associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations. 3. List, compile, classify and document the genetic resources and their derivatives or associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations. 4. Enhance and promote research that contributes to preservation and sustainable use of the biodiversity.

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) Scope of Application 1. The provisions of this Law shall apply to the following: A. The genetic resources and their derivatives and associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations, which are accessed or utilized in the State, imported from abroad or exported abroad. B. The genetic resources and their derivatives within or outside their natural habitats.

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    Federal Law No. (8) of 2021 on Access to Genetic Resources and their Derivatives and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Originating from their Utilization 5 2. The provisions of this Law shall not apply to the following: A. Human genetic resources; B. Genetic resources intended for personal use; and C. Genetic resources whose possession and benefit sharing are subject to particular international procedures.

  4. 4

    Article 4

    Article (4) Access to Genetic Resources 1. Any person may only get access to the genetic resources and fairly and equitably share the benefits originating from their utilization if an associated permit is obtained from the Competent Authority. 2. Any person may only import or export the genetic resources and fairly and equitably share the benefits originating from their utilization if an associated approval is obtained from the Ministry. 3. The Executive Regulations of this Law shall specify the type and validity period of the Competent Authority's permit, the Ministry's approval and any further necessary requirements.

  5. 5

    Article 5

    Article (5) Electronic Record The Competent Department shall keep an electronic record to include therein all approvals issued by the Ministry as well as the permits issued by the Competent Authority and granted according to the provisions of this Law. The Competent Authorities shall provide the Ministry with all necessary data.

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    Federal Law No. (8) of 2021 on Access to Genetic Resources and their Derivatives and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Originating from their Utilization 6

  6. 6

    Article 6

    Article (6) Documentation of Conventional Knowledge and Practices A Steering Committee, made up of members from the competent federal and local entities, shall be created for documenting the conventional knowledge and practices in the State. The formation, terms of reference and operation system of such a Committee shall be determined under a Minister's resolution.

  7. 7

    Article 7

    Article (7) Collection and Utilization of Genetic Resources and Their Derivatives The genetic resources or their derivatives and associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations may only be accessed in the State based on a permit from the Competent Authority, and in accordance with the controls and procedures set out in the Executive Regulations of this Law.

  8. 8

    Article 8

    Article (8) Export and Import of Genetic Resources and Their Derivatives The genetic resources or their derivatives and associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations may only be exported from or imported into the State based on the Ministry's approval and according to the controls and procedures set out in the Executive Regulations of this Law.

  9. 9

    Article 9

    Article (9) Sharing of Benefits The Ministry and Competent Authority may share the benefits with the Party that gets access to the genetic resource and which originate from the direct or indirect utilization of the genetic resources and their derivatives and associated conventional and heritage knowledge and practices and innovations, according to the provisions of the Benefit Sharing

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    Federal Law No. (8) of 2021 on Access to Genetic Resources and their Derivatives and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Originating from their Utilization 7 Agreement.

  10. 10

    Article 10

    Article (10) Revocation of Approval, Permit and Benefit Sharing Agreement The approval, permit and Benefit Sharing Agreement may be revoked in any of the following cases: 1. If the requirements of the approval, permit and Benefit Sharing Agreement – as the case may be – are breached. 2. If incorrect information or data are provided in order to obtain the approval or permit or to sign the Benefit Sharing Agreement, as the case may be. 3. Any other cases set out in the Executive Regulations of this Law.

  11. 11

    Article 11

    Article (11) Penalties 1. The application of penalties set forth in this Law shall not prejudice any more severe penalty provided for in any other law. 2. Whoever breaches the provisions of paragraph (3) of Article (4) of this law shall be punished with a fine of not less than AED (200,000) two hundred thousand dirhams and not exceeding AED (1,000,000) one million dirhams. Such a penalty shall be doubled in case of recidivism. 3. Whoever breaches the provisions of Article (7) or (8) of this law shall be punished with prison sentence of not less than (6) six months and not exceeding (2) two years and / or a fine of not less than AED (1,000,000) one million dirhams and not exceeding AED (5,000,000) five million dirhams. Such a penalty shall be doubled in case of recidivism. 4. The Court shall order that the items involved in the Case be confiscated and delivered to the Ministry or the Competent Authority to be disposed of as deemed appropriate.

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    Federal Law No. (8) of 2021 on Access to Genetic Resources and their Derivatives and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Originating from their Utilization 8

  12. 12

    Article 12

    Article (12) Grievance Any of the resolutions issued by the Ministry in implementation of the provisions of this Law may be subject to grievance to be filed within (30) thirty days of the date of knowledge. The grievance shall be filed with a committee to be formed for such purpose based on a resolution of the Minister and the Committee shall decide on the grievance within (15) fifteen days of the date of being filed, and its resolution on the grievance shall be final.

  13. 13

    Article 13

    Article (13) Judicial Officers The employees, to be named under a resolution of the Minister of Justice in agreement with both the Minister and Chairman of the Competent Authority, shall have the official capacity of judicial officers for detecting any violations of the provisions of this law and its Executive Regulations as well as the resolutions issued in implementation hereof, within their respective areas of competence.

  14. 14

    Article 14

    Article (14) Fees for Access to Genetic Resources The Cabinet shall issue a resolution determining the fees prescribed according to the provisions of this Law.

  15. 15

    Article 15

    Article (15) Executive Regulations The Cabinet shall, based on the Minister's proposal, issue the Executive Regulations of this Law within twelve months of its publication date.

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    Federal Law No. (8) of 2021 on Access to Genetic Resources and their Derivatives and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Originating from their Utilization 9

  16. 16

    Article 16

    Article (16) Repeals Each provision that contradicts or is contrary to the provisions of this Law shall be repealed.

  17. 17

    Article 17

    Article (17) Publication and Entry into Force This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette, and shall come into force as of the day following its publication date. Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE President Issued by us at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi On: 17 Ramadan 1442 AH Corresponding To: 29 April 2021

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Note: The Arabic text of this legislation is the authoritative version as per the official UAE Legislation portal.

Articles in this law(17)
  1. 1Article (1) Definitions For applying the provisions of this Law, the following w
  2. 2Article (2) Objectives of the Law This Law shall aim to: 1. Protect, preserve, r
  3. 3Article (3) Scope of Application 1. The provisions of this Law shall apply to th
  4. 4Article (4) Access to Genetic Resources 1. Any person may only get access to the
  5. 5Article (5) Electronic Record The Competent Department shall keep an electronic
  6. 6Article (6) Documentation of Conventional Knowledge and Practices A Steering Com
  7. 7Article (7) Collection and Utilization of Genetic Resources and Their Derivative
  8. 8Article (8) Export and Import of Genetic Resources and Their Derivatives The gen
  9. 9Article (9) Sharing of Benefits The Ministry and Competent Authority may share t
  10. 10Article (10) Revocation of Approval, Permit and Benefit Sharing Agreement The ap
  11. 11Article (11) Penalties 1. The application of penalties set forth in this Law sha
  12. 12Article (12) Grievance Any of the resolutions issued by the Ministry in implemen
  13. 13Article (13) Judicial Officers The employees, to be named under a resolution of
  14. 14Article (14) Fees for Access to Genetic Resources The Cabinet shall issue a reso
  15. 15Article (15) Executive Regulations The Cabinet shall, based on the Minister's pr
  16. 16Article (16) Repeals Each provision that contradicts or is contrary to the provi
  17. 17Article (17) Publication and Entry into Force This Law shall be published in the
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