General UAE Legal Questions LawCabinet Resolution No. (26) of 2023 Regarding the Administrative Penalties Imposed on Violators of the Provisions of Cabinet Resolution No. (31) of 2017 Regarding the Establishment of the UAE Council for Fatwa, as Amended

Article (1) Definitions For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this Resolution, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise: The State : United Arab Emirates. The Council : The UAE Council for Fatwa established pursuant to Cabinet Resolution No. (31) of 2017, as amended.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Regarding the Administrative Penalties Imposed on Violators of the Provisions of Cabinet Resolution of 2017 Regarding the Establishment of the UAE Council for Fatwa, as Amended 2 Director General : Director General of the Council. Fatwa : The issuance of a Sharia opinion on any general or personal matter. General Fatwas : The issuance of a Sharia opinion on matters affecting the political, economic, and social stability of the State, or potentially inciting strife, sectarianism, and division in society. Personal Fatwas : The issuance of a Sharia opinion on the personal matters concerning individuals in society, such as worship or financial transactions, as well as jurisprudential matters related to the family or Sharia rulings related to the traditions and customs of society.

Article (3) Administrative Penalties 1. Without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated in any other law or resolution, anyone who violates the provisions of Cabinet Resolution No. (31) of 2017 regarding the establishment of the UAE Council for Fatwa, as amended, shall be subject to the administrative fine prescribed for each violation in accordance with the violations and fines set out in the table annexed hereto. 2. In the event of a repeated violation, the Council may: − For the first repetition: Double the administrative fine; − For the second repetition: Temporarily suspend the license or permit; − For the third repetition: Revoke the license or permit.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Regarding the Administrative Penalties Imposed on Violators of the Provisions of Cabinet Resolution of 2017 Regarding the Establishment of the UAE Council for Fatwa, as Amended 3

Article (6) Grievance Mechanism for Administrative Penalties 1. The competent authority in the Council shall notify the violator of the administrative penalty decision imposed on them within (15) fifteen days from the date of its issuance. 2. The person against whom an administrative penalty decision stipulated in this Resolution has been issued may file a grievance with the Council within (15) fifteen days from the date of notification of the decision subject to grievance. The grievance shall be submitted to the Council, through a reasoned request accompanied by all supporting documents, in accordance with the procedures determined by the Council. 3. The Director General shall form a committee to decide on the grievance, either by rejecting it, amending the decision subject to grievance, or cancelling it. This shall be done within thirty (30) days from the date of submission. Failure to respond to the grievance within that period shall be deemed a rejection. 4. The decision issued on the grievance shall be final.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Regarding the Administrative Penalties Imposed on Violators of the Provisions of Cabinet Resolution of 2017 Regarding the Establishment of the UAE Council for Fatwa, as Amended 4

Article (9) Publication and Entry into Force This Resolution shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force from the day following the date of its publication. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Prime Minister Issued by us: Dated: Ramadan 05, 1444 A.H. Corresponding to: 27 March 2023 A.D.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Regarding the Administrative Penalties Imposed on Violators of the Provisions of Cabinet Resolution of 2017 Regarding the Establishment of the UAE Council for Fatwa, as Amended 5 Table of Administrative Violations and Fines Annexed to Cabinet Resolution No. (26) of 2023 Regarding Administrative Fines Imposed on Violators of the Provisions of Cabinet Resolution No. (31) of 2017 Regarding the Establishment of the UAE Council for Fatwa, as Amended the Establishment of the UAE Council for Fatwa, as Amended No. Applicable article of the resolution Violation Description Fine (AED) 1 Article (4) Clause 1 Issuing a general Sharia Fatwa in the State on any matter or topic within the competence of the Council. (100,000) One hundred thousand 2 Article (5) Practicing Sharia Fatwa in the State, or publishing Sharia fatwas without a license or permit from the Council. (50,000) Fifty thousand 3 Article (4) Clause 4 Sectarian Intolerance (100,000) One hundred thousand 4 Article (6) Clauses 1 and 2 Issuing Sharia fatwas on cases pending before the judicial authorities in the State, or issuing fatwas on matters and topics regulated by laws in force in the State without a license or permit from the Council. (80,000) Eighty thousand 5 Article (7) Clause 1 Failure to comply with the general fatwas issued by the Council. (100,000) One hundred thousand 6 Article (7) Clause 2 Violation by a person or entity licensed to issue Sharia fatwas of fatwas issued by the Council. (100,000) One hundred thousand

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Cabinet Resolution of 2023 Regarding the Administrative Penalties Imposed on Violators of the Provisions of Cabinet Resolution of 2017 Regarding the Establishment of the UAE Council for Fatwa, as Amended 6 7 Article (7) Clause 3 Challenging or questioning the general fatwas issued by the Council through any public means. (100,000) One hundred thousand 8 Article (9) Non-compliance by media related entities and institutions, electronic platforms, and social media users in the State in obtaining a license or permit from the Council prior to publishing Sharia fatwas, hosting individuals to deliver Sharia fatwas, or organizing a Sharia fatwa program. − (50,000) Fifty thousand for natural persons. − (100,000) One hundred thousand for legal persons.

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