General UAE Legal Questions LawFederal Decree by Law No. (6) of 2007 Establishing and Organizing the National Center of Meteorology (NCM)

Article (1) For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Decree by Law, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context otherwise requires: State : The United Arab Emirates. Concerned Authorities : All federal and local authorities in the member Emirates of the Federation concerned with meteorological and seismic affairs.

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Decree by Law of 2007 Establishing and Organizing the National Center of Meteorology 2 Minister : The Minister of Presidential Affairs. Center : The National Center of Meteorology, affiliated with the Minister of Presidential Affairs, established pursuant to the Decision of the Minister of Presidential Affairs No. (16) of 2007. Board : The Board of Trustees of the Center. Chairman : The Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Vice-Chairman : The Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Director : The Director General of the Center. Meteorological Services : The provision of meteorological information and services, including marine, agricultural, hydrological, air quality, weather and aviation meteorological services, as well as related logistical services falling within the competences of the Center, for the purpose of supporting the safety, economy, and efficiency of land, maritime, and air transport, as well as for public works, agriculture, and others. Seismic Engineering Services : Seismic monitoring and tsunami early-warning, including studies of ground acceleration and expected seismic intensity, monitoring of crustal movements, and site response to seismic waves, in support of the design of building codes.

Article (5) 1. The Center shall be managed by a Board of Trustees formed by a decision of the Minister, consisting of five members, including the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman. The Minister shall approve the recommendations adopted by the Board in accordance with the competences exercised thereby pursuant to the provisions hereof. 2. The term of membership of the Board shall be three years, renewable for a similar term. 3. The Vice-Chairman shall replace the Chairman in the event of their absence. 4. The Board shall adopt its own internal regulations, which shall be approved and issued by a decision of the Minister. 5. The Board may seek the assistance of such experts as it deems appropriate to assist it in the performance of its work, provided that they shall have no voting rights when decisions are taken. 6. The Board shall select a rapporteur from among the employees of the Center.

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Decree by Law of 2007 Establishing and Organizing the National Center of Meteorology 4

Article (6) The Board shall be the authority responsible for developing the general policy of the Center and shall exercise the powers necessary to achieve its objectives within the limits stipulated in this Decree by Law, in particular the following: 1. Approve the general policy to be followed by the Center in order to achieve its objectives and follow up on the implementation thereof after approval by the Minister. 2. Approve the draft annual budget of the Center in accordance with the appropriations allocated thereto within the budget of the Ministry, subject to the approval of the Minister. 3. Approve the draft organizational structure of the Center, which shall be approved and issued by a decision of the Minister. 4. Approve the draft human resources regulations for the Center's employees, its financial regulations, and internal systems. Such regulations and systems shall be approved and issued by a decision of the Minister. 5. Approve the draft contracts to be concluded with individuals, bodies, and organizations domestically and internationally, within the limits prescribed in the internal regulations and systems of the Center. 6. Approve the establishment of projects and participation in companies related to the competences of the Center, in accordance with the applicable legislation and systems, subject to the approval of the Minister. 7. Submit a semi-annual report on all aspects of the Center's activity to the Minister. 8. Consider subjects referred thereto by the Minister or the Chairman or those submitted by the Director. 9. Any other tasks assigned to the Board by the Cabinet or the Minister.

Article (7) The Center shall have a Director who shall be the legal representative thereof. The functional grade and financial entitlements of the Director shall be determined in their appointment decision. The Center's Director shall manage the Center and conduct its affairs within the limits set forth in this Decree by Law and the Center's regulations and systems. In particular, the Director shall exercise the following competences:

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Decree by Law of 2007 Establishing and Organizing the National Center of Meteorology 5 1. Implement the decisions issued by the Minister. 2. Undertake all financial and administrative acts within the limits prescribed by the regulations and systems applicable in the Center. 3. Prepare the draft policies and plans necessary to achieve the objectives of the Center and present the same to the Board. 4. Develop the programs necessary for the implementation of the approved policies and plans, and submit periodic reports to the Board regarding the implementation of such policies and plans. 5. Appoint employees to the positions of the Center in accordance with the provisions of the human resources regulations. 6. Prepare the draft annual budget of the Center and the final accounts thereof. 7. Approve the recruitment of experts and technicians to participate in assignments at the Center and determine their financial remuneration, within the limits of the appropriations allocated for this purpose and in accordance with the rules established by the Board in this regard. 8. Any other tasks assigned thereto by the Board or the Minister. The Minister may appoint a Deputy Director of the Center to assist the Director in managing the Center and conducting its affairs. The decision appointing the Deputy Director shall determine their powers, functional grades, and financial entitlements. The Director may delegate some of their competences to the Deputy Director. Financial Affairs

Article (13) Without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided for under any other law, anyone who commits any of the following acts shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not less than (2) two years and a fine of not less than fifty thousand dirhams, or by either of these penalties:

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Decree by Law of 2007 Establishing and Organizing the National Center of Meteorology 7 1. Providing meteorological or weather-related information or services to any foreign entity with the intent of assisting it in undermining the national security of the State. 2. Providing meteorological and seismic services at the level of the State, of whatever type, including monitoring, issuing, or publishing reports and studies relating to weather and climate changes and meteorological and seismic warnings, regardless of their nature, whether written, audio, or visual, and by any means whatsoever, including publication on social media platforms, where such acts are carried out other than through the Center or without obtaining its prior approval. 3. Establishing meteorological observatories or operating meteorological or seismic monitoring equipment without submitting them to the Center, verifying the technical specifications of such equipment and their compliance with international standards, and obtaining the Center’s prior approval.