General UAE Legal Questions LawCabinet Resolution No. (113) of 2021 Concerning the Executive Regulation of Federal Law No. (10) of 2021 Regulating Cemeteries and Burial Procedures

Article (1) The definitions set forth in Federal Law No. (10) of 2021 shall be applied to this Resolution. Otherwise, the following terms and expressions shall be accorded their designated meanings, unless the context requires otherwise: Sharia Authority : The Federal or local authority competent with Islamic affairs and Sharia Fatwa in the State, as the case may be. Gravesides of the Cemetery : The outer strip surrounding the cemetery from all sides. Headstone : The elevated built component that is fixed at the rims of the grave to determine the place of the head and the feet.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2021 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law of 2021 Regulating C…

Article (2) For the execution of provisions of Article (2) of the aforementioned Federal Law No. (10) of 2021, the competent authority shall abide by the terms and conditions of cemeteries regulations as shown in this Chapter.

Article (3) Types of Cemeteries Cemeteries are classified as follows: 1. Muslims cemeteries. 2. Non-Muslims cemeteries.

Article (4) Building New Cemeteries When establishing a new cemetery, the following conditions and regulations shall be applied: 1. The plot of the cemetery shall be an allocated endowment of a restricted ownership in accordance with legislations applicable in the State. 2. The cemetery shall be away from the existing built-up area and the future extension of potential residential mass area. 3. The cemetery shall be away from sources of industrial pollution. 4. The land shall be graded and suitable for burial with respect to consolidation, easy to dig and far from flood streams. 5. The cemetery shall not affect the sources of underground water and shall be distant enough to prevent pollution…

Article (5) Fences of the Cemetery Fences of the cemetery shall be according to the following conditions: 1. The fence shall not be less than 2.5 metre high. 2. Fences and the surrounding external road shall be provided with the necessary lighting. 3. Security monitoring cameras system connected with the operation room in the Emirate shall be executed. The competent authority shall build a fence for old cemeteries within the Emirate in accordance with the conditions stipulated in this Article.

Article (6) The Cemetery Planning The new cemetery shall be planned according to the following requirements: 1. Areas for big graves, small graves and newborn and embryos graves shall be determined. 2. An area shall be allocated in the cemetery for the following groups: a. Martyrs. b. Deceased individuals afflicted with communicable diseases. c. Burial of human organs. d. Burial in case of catastrophes. 3. Corridors connecting graves shall be determined, paved and provided with suitable lighting. 4. An area for green spaces shall be allocated in order to be planted according to the nature of the land without any damage to graves.

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Article (7) Size of the Grave Without prejudice to provisions of Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 Concerning Combating Communicable Diseases and its Executive Regulation, sizes of graves shall not be less than the following sizes:

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Cabinet Resolution of 2021 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law of 2021 Regulating Cemetaries and Burial Procedures 5 Grave Type Length/cm Width/cm Depth/cm Big Grave 210 110 140 Small Grave 110 80 60 Newborn or embryo grave According to the decision of the competent authority.

Article (8) The Outer Shape of Graves Graves shall be covered in the manner with which the features of the grave are determined in order to avoid standing or walking over the grave. This shall be in accordance with the forms approved by the competent authority in coordination with the Sharia authority.

Article (9) Headstones of Graves The competent authority shall manage putting headstones according to the following conditions: 1. Headstones for Muslims graves shall be put at the place of the head and feet, and its dimensions shall be according to the following sizes: Length/cm Width/cm Thickness/cm 60 20 4 2. Headstones for Non-Muslims graves shall be put at the place determined by the competent authority. 3. The material of which the headstone is made shall be approved by the competent authority where it shall be resistant to environmental degeneration factors. 4. Number of the grave or any data determined by the competent authority shall be put on the headstone. In all cases, the headst…

Article (10) Regulating Non-Muslims Cemeteries In order to regulate Non-Muslims cemeteries, the following shall be provided: 1. Dimensions and height of the grave shall not exceed half height of the cemetery fence. 2. Direction of the grave at the same cemetery shall be unified. In all cases, the competent authority shall determine the beneficiary groups of the cemetery and conditions of burial in it.

Article (11) Ethics of Visiting Cemeteries The competent authority shall, in coordination with the Sharia authority, set the ethics of visiting cemeteries and shall put such ethics at the entrances of the cemeteries for the visitors to abide by, provided that visits shall be at day times.

Article (12) Archaeological Cemeteries Provisions of Federal Law No. (11) of 2017 Concerning Antiquities shall be applied to archaeological cemeteries. As for cemeteries where the description of archaeological cemeteries does not apply on them and are not used because of outdatedness, the competent authority shall manage them with respect to security and maintenance in a manner that keeps the sanctity of its graves.

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Article (13) Procedures of Transfer of Cemeteries Cemeteries may be transferred based on the discretion of the competent authorities in coordination with the Sharia authority and the health authority. The competent authority shall set the procedures to transfer cemeteries and the time period allowed for cemeteries transfer in coordination with the Sharia authority and the health authority.

Article (14) Database The competent authority shall, in coordination with the heath authority, establish an electronic database to record the following data: 1. Personal data and death date. 2. Data of burial cases for all groups and reasons thereof. 3. Number and date of burial permit as well as the issuing authority. 4. Number of the grave. 5. Any additional data. In all cases, the database shall be linked to the concerned systems at the Ministry of Interior and the Identity and Citizenship Federal Authority.

Article (15) Geographic Information Systems The competent authority shall link the sites of graves at areas that are under its authority with its GIS electronic database.

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Article (16) Security of Graves As an enforcement of the Law and its Executive Regulation, the competent authority shall, within the scope of its competences, manage the following tasks: 1. Monitor, guard, inspect and secure the graves. 2. Keep the graves' general hygiene. 3. Provide all resources necessary for digging graves and deceased burial. These tasks may be assigned to the private sector based on contracts to be concluded with specialized companies to perform such tasks. Chapter Three Transfer and Washing of the Deceased

Article (17) Transfer of the Citizen Deceased to the State Upon the death of a citizen outside the State, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation shall take the following procedures: 1. Follow up the procedures of issuing a death report or death certificate with its attestation according to the procedures approved for the Ministry and send the same to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security. 2. Report to the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security. 3. Follow up judicial procedures in case there is a criminal suspicion relevant to the death case. 4. Perform necessary procedures to…

Article (18) Transferring a Corpse or A Human Organ for Burial The corpse or a human organ shall be transferred according to the following conditions: 1. A burial permit is issued and the cemetery is determined. 2. The transfer means shall be licensed by the competent authority for deceased transfer. 3. If the transfer is to outside the Emirate, a written consent from the competent authority to which the transfer is made in the Emirate shall be obtained and the cemetery shall be determined.

Article (19) Transfer of Deceased Individuals Afflicted with Communicable Diseases Transfer of deceased individuals afflicted with communicable diseases shall be made in accordance with provisions of Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 Concerning Combating Communicable Diseases and its Executive Regulation.

Article (20) Transfer of a Corpse, A Human Organ or Remains thereof to A Foreign Country Without prejudice to provisions of Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 Concerning Combating Communicable Diseases and its Executive Regulation, a corpse, a human organ or remains thereof shall be transferred to a foreign country according to the following conditions:

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Cabinet Resolution of 2021 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law of 2021 Regulating Cemetaries and Burial Procedures 10 1. An application shall be submitted by the relatives of the deceased to Police attached with the following: a. Death certificate. b. Approval of the Public Prosecution. c. Approval of the State to wh…

Article (21) Deceased Means of Transportation The competent authority shall provide means of transport dedicated for deceased transportation and shall license the vehicles dedicated for this purpose in a manner that ensures its operation and continuous use.

Article (22) Deceased Means of Transportation into the State The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation shall coordinate with the transport companies (air-land-maritime) to transfer the body of the deceased citizen to the State by the suitable means. In this respect, the Ministry may conclude partnerships with national transport companies to transfer bodies of citizens from outside the State.

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Article (23) Places for Deceased Washing The competent authority shall establish places dedicated for deceased washing with the required tools for washing and shrouding are available in coordination with the Sharia authority.

Article (24) Workers at the Deceased Washing Places Workers at the places dedicated for deceased washing shall fulfil the following conditions and requirements: 1. He/she shall be a Muslim. 2. Educational qualification shall not be less than the high school. 3. Age shall not be less than 25 years old. 4. He/she shall be truthful and knows Sharia provisions with respect to deceased washing and shrouding. 5. He/she shall be licensed by the Sharia authority. 6. Persons who wash and prepare the deceased belong to his gender, whether a male or female. In all cases, the Sharia authority may license volunteers who are not workers at the deceased washing places to wash and prepare the deceased.

Article (25) Procedures of Washing Muslim Deceased 1. Washing of deceased individuals afflicted with communicable diseases shall be made in accordance with provisions stipulated in the Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 Concerning Combating Communicable Diseases and its Executive Regulation. 2. Washing of deceased individuals in usual cases shall be made at the places designated by the competent authority relevant to washing the deceased.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2021 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law of 2021 Regulating Cemetaries and Burial Procedures 12 3. Washing and preparing the deceased may be made at the house based on the request of the deceased relatives ac…

Article (26) For the purposes of enforcement of Article (6) of the aforementioned Federal Law No. (10) of 2021, procedures, conditions and requirements of corpses burial shall be according to the provisions set forth in this Chapter.

Article (27) Procedures to Report Death Outside Health Facilities When death occurs outside health facility, the following procedures shall be taken: 1. Police shall be reported with all death cases that occur outside health facilities. 2. The Police competent regulatory units shall go to the death location. 3. Police shall report to the Attorney General to take the appropriate decision. 4. If death is natural, Public Prosecution shall issue the burial permit or disposition of the corpse. 5. If there is a criminal suspicion, the following procedures shall be taken:

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Cabinet Resolution of 2021 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law of 2021 Regulating Cemetaries an…

Article (28) Procedures to Report Death Inside Health Facilities When death occurs inside health facility, the following procedures shall be taken: 1. Health facility shall report to Police with all death cases that occur inside health facilities. 2. Police shall report to the Attorney General to take the appropriate decision. 3. If death is natural, Prosecution shall issue the burial permit or disposition of the corpse. 4. If there is a criminal suspicion, the following procedures shall be taken: a. The competent Public Prosecution shall be notified in order that the Attorney General shall go to the place of the corpse to take the legal procedures designated for this respect. b. Police shal…

Article (29) Preservation of Corpse No corpse may be detained or preserved in the morgue for any reason unless there is a permission from Public Prosecution, provided that the corpse shall be mummified if needed according to medical and preventive procedures designated thereof as determined by the health authority.

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Article (30) The Deceased Mummification The corpse of the deceased shall be mummified in cases determined by the Ministry of Health and Prevention in accordance with the conditions and requirements determined by the Ministry.

Article (31) Conditions of Preparation of a non-Muslim Deceased Without prejudice to provisions of Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 Concerning Combating Communicable Diseases and its Executive Regulation, relatives of the Non-Muslim deceased shall manage preparation of the deceased according to the following conditions: 1. The deceased shall be prepared within (3) three days as of the date of the burial permit, and this period may be extended to maximum (7) seven days upon the consent of the competent authority. 2. The deceased preparation shall be at the places determined by the competent authority and under its supervision, in coordination with health authority.

Article (32) Conditions and Requirements for Burial of a Muslim Corpse The competent authority shall handle the burial of the Muslim corpse in accordance with Sharia conditions and requirements decided by Sharia authority in this respect. In all cases, no person who is not authorized by the competent authority may not interfere with the burial procedures.

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Article (33) Ethics of Burial of Muslim Female Corpse The competent authority shall consider the following procedures when a Muslim woman is buried: 1. Burial of the Muslim woman shall be handled by her father, husband or one of her non- marriageable men. If this is not possible, the competent authority shall handle the burial procedures. 2. The grave shall be covered when the deceased woman is entered into the grave.

Article (34) Conditions and Requirements for Disposition of a Non-Muslim Corpse Without prejudice to provisions of Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 Concerning Combating Communicable Diseases and its Executive Regulation, relatives of the Non-Muslim deceased shall manage disposition of the deceased corpse under the supervision of the competent authority.

Article (35) Burial Conditions of a Non-resident Foreigner Corpse The corpse of a non-resident foreigner shall be disposed upon receiving a permit of the Public Prosecution. This shall be made in accordance with the conditions and requirements stipulated in this Resolution and the cases determined in Article (13) of the Law.

Article (36) Conditions to Dispose Unclaimed Corpse When procedures stipulated in Articles (18) and (19) of this Resolution, unclaimed corpses shall be disposed as follows:

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Cabinet Resolution of 2021 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law of 2021 Regulating Cemetaries and Burial Procedures 16 1. As for citizens: a. Health authority shall report to Police about the unclaimed corpse of a citizen. b. Police shall inform the relatives of the deceased in order to receive the corpse and proceed the burial procedures within maximum (48) forty-eight hours as of the notification date. c. If the corpse is not claimed within the period stated in Para (b) of Clause (1) of t…

Article (37) Conditions to Bury Unknown Corpse If a corpse of an unknown person is found, the issue shall be referred to Public Prosecution to take necessary procedures in order to check that there is no criminal suspicion. If the identity of the deceased can not be identified, burial procedures shall be initiated under a permit issued by

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Cabinet Resolution of 2021 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law of 2021 Regulating Cemetaries and Burial Procedures 17 Public Prosecution. This is provided that burial shall be made by the competent authority in coordination with health authority.

Article (38) Conditions to Bury A Resident who Died Abroad The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation may issue a No Objection Certificate to transfer the resident who died abroad in order to be buried in the State after the relatives of the deceased obtain the necessary approvals in coordination with the local entities in the following cases: 1. If the deceased is a first-degree relative to a citizen. 2. If the deceased is a first-degree relative to a resident in the State, provided that residence of the relative is valid. 3. The envoy for a mission, study or treatment at the cost of the State. 4. Any other case upon discretion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Inter…

Article (39) Transfer of the Corpse After Burial No buried corpse may be taken out in order to be transferred to any other place, whether inside or outside the State unless (6) six months lapse and subject to a permit issued by Public Prosecution and the consent of the health authority.

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Article (40) Disposition of a Corpse of a Deceased with Communicable Diseases If death is shown to be due to communicable diseases, the corpse shall be disposed in accordance with provisions stipulated in the Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 Concerning Combating Communicable Diseases and its Executive Regulation.

Article (41) Disposition of Human Organs Without prejudice to provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. (5) of 2016 Concerning Regulating The Transfer and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues, human organs that were medically amputated or due to an accident shall be disposed or buried according to the procedures set by the health authority in coordination with the competent authority. Chapter Six Final Provisions

Article (42) Executive Resolutions Ministries and the competent authorities, each within its jurisdiction, shall enforce the provisions of this Resolution.

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Article (43) Publication and Enforcement This Resolution shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force as of the day following the date of its publication. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Prime Minister Issued by us: Date: 30 December 2021 AD Corresponding to: 25 Jumada I 1443 A.H.

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