General UAE Legal Questions LawCabinet Resolution No. (130) of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Geospatial Information

Article (1) Definitions The definitions set forth in the aforementioned Federal Decree by Law No. (5) of 2019 shall apply to this Resolution. For the purposes of this Resolution, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context otherwise requires: State : The United Arab Emirates. Decree by Law : Federal Decree by Law No. (5) of 2019 Regarding the Establishment of the Federal Geographic Information Center. Competent Authority : The local entity that undertakes the regulation, licensing, and authorizing geospatial activities, and is considered the official and competent reference for Geospatial Information within the scope of its respective Emirate. The Person : The private Legal Person. Geospatial Information : Information and data related to a specific geographic location, including Fundamental and Core Geospatial Data.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Geospatial Information 2 Fundamental Geospatial Data : Reference Geospatial datasets that form the necessary basis for accurately determining geographic locations and provide a unified spatial framework for all other types of Geospatial Information. These datasets include the fundamental information used by all sectors, characterized by high accuracy, stability, and consistency, and are determined by the Center in coordination with the Competent Authorities. Core Geospatial Data : Specialized Geospatial Datasets that serve specific sectors and provide detailed information on specific phenomena or activities. These datasets are characterized by diversity and relative variability, and rely on Fundamental Geospatial Data for positioning. It is determined by the Center in coordination with the Competent Authorities. Geospatial Metadata : Information that clarifies and describes Geospatial Information packages and related services, enabling their discovery, sorting, and utilization. Geospatial Information Security : A set of technical and organizational measures, procedures, and processes designed to preserve and protect the privacy, confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Geospatial Information, and to ensure its integration and availability. National Gazetteer of Geographical Names : The national database of Geographical Names. Maps : A geometric representation of natural and man-made features of a specific location of the Earth's surface, drawn to a specific scale, showing symbols and spatial relationships among such features.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Geospatial Information 3 Official National Maps and Geospatial Products : Maps and products issued by the Center in coordination with the concerned authorities, and certified by the Center in accordance with the Decree by Law. Unified Model for Geospatial Information : A unified set of design specifications for the elements of a Geospatial Information database in a common spatial environment that describes the layers of Geospatial Information database within a shared spatial environment, describing the geospatial information layers, their spatial representation, associated metadata, the relationship between the elements and the validity rules governing such relationship, their cartographic display rules, and their Metadata requirements. Geographical Names : Names assigned to a location or feature to indicate a specific place, feature, or area, and include cities, neighborhoods, natural features, or man-made features. Surveying Control Points : Points established as permanent survey markers whose coordinates are calculated with high accuracy to serve as a reference for surveying and measurements works. Geodetic Reference : A reference system through which longitude, latitude, grid coordinates, elevations, and gravity measurements within the State are determined. Surveying Activities : Includes the establishment of surveying stations and Surveying Control Points, and the conduct of land, aerial, or marine surveys. Geospatial Information Activities : Everything related to Geospatial Information, including its creation, collection, compilation, use, surveying, distribution, and the storage of all data related thereto.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Geospatial Information 4 Activities : Surveying and Geospatial Information Activities that require obtaining a License from the Center to be practiced, which shall be determined by a decision issued by the Chairman of the Board of Directors in coordination with the Competent Authorities. Works : The Activities carried out by Persons at the State level, that require obtaining a Permit from the Center or the Competent Authority, as the case may be, prior to their execution. License : The No-Objection Certificate issued by the Center for Practicing the Activities. Permit : The approval issued by the Center or the Competent Authority, as the case may be, for the execution of the Works. Reference Register : The register prepared by the Center to record data related to the licensing of the Activities and the authorization of Works.

Article (5) Conditions for Issuing a License 1. To obtain a License, the applicant shall meet the following conditions: a. Be a person established in accordance with the legislation in force in the State. b. Have a qualified staff possessing the necessary approvals under the applicable legislation to carry out all technical works related to Activity. c. Obtain all required approvals and licenses from the Competent and concerned Authorities related to the Activity for which the license is sought. 2. The License shall include the following details: a. The name and legal form of the licensee. b. The category and nature of the licensed Activity. c. The scope and validity period of the License.

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Article (6) Procedures for Issuing a License 1. The application for a License shall be submitted using the form and means specified between the Center and the Competent Authority, accompanied by the documents and instruments supporting the validity of the data contained therein. 2. The Center shall review the application and decide thereon within (5) five working days from the date the application meets the licensing conditions and requirements. The lapse of this period without a decision on the application shall be deemed an implicit rejection of the application. 3. The Center may request any additional approvals, information, documents, or instruments necessary to decide on the application. 4. The Center shall issue the License within (3) three working days from the date of the decision on the application and shall notify the applicant thereof through the means approved between the Center and the Competent Authority. 5. In case of rejection, coordination shall take place between the Center and the Competent Authority, and the applicant shall be notified thereof through the means approved between the Center and the Competent Authority, provided that the notification includes the following: a. The substance of the decision. b. The grounds for the decision. c. Notifying the applicant of their right to file a grievance against the rejection decision in accordance with the provisions of this Resolution. 6. The License issued by the Center pursuant to this Resolution shall not exempt the licensee from obtaining the necessary licenses from the competent local authorities in accordance with the applicable legislation thereto. 7. The Competent Authority shall provide the Center with the licenses issued thereby, in accordance with the mechanism coordinated with the Center in this regard.

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Article (9) Conditions for Granting a Permit The Center shall issue the Permit upon fulfillment of the following conditions: 1. The applicant shall be a Person established in accordance with the legislation in force in the State. 2. The applicant shall hold a valid License issued by the Center to carry out the Activities. 3. Submission of all documents and data specified by the Center for the issuance of the Permit, including those related to the location, geographic extent, timeframe, scope of

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Cabinet Resolution of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Geospatial Information 8 work, methodology, technologies used, applied specifications, targeted outcomes, and service providers involved in the execution. 4. Submission of an undertaking from the permittee to execute the Works within the limits of the issued Permit. 5. Approval of the Competent Authority.

Article (11) Revocation of License or Permit 1. The Center may, in coordination with the Competent Authority, revoke the License or Permit in any of the following cases: a. Violation of the terms and conditions of the License or Permit referred to in the Decree by Law, this Resolution, or any other regulations or resolutions in force at the Center. b. If it is established that the licensee or permittee has submitted forged, falsified, or inaccurate documents, instruments, or data. 2. The licensee or permittee shall be notified of the revocation decision at their chosen domicile by registered mail or email, within (7) seven working days from the date of its issuance, or by any other means determined between the Center and the Competent Authority.

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Article (15) Geospatial Information Governance 1. The Center shall form committees and working teams at the national level to carry out specific tasks and Activities to achieve strategic objectives, policies, and plans, and to provide technical consultations, studies, and other tasks that the Center deems necessary for the implementation and management of its Works. 2. The Center, in coordination with the concerned authorities, shall determine the entities responsible for providing the Center with Core and Fundamental Geospatial Data and any updates thereto. 3. The Center shall work to align projects related to Geospatial Information at the State level. The concerned authorities shall provide information on implemented, ongoing, or planned projects to avoid duplication in the implementation of geospatial projects, in accordance with their established procedures and the applicable legislation in this regard. 4. The Center, in coordination with the concerned authorities, shall propose controls for the import and export of goods related to Geospatial Information, including dual-use goods, and submit them to the Cabinet for approval.

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Article (16) The National Geospatial Information Database 1. The Center, in coordination with the Competent Authorities, shall prepare the Unified Model for Geospatial Information and its related standards and specifications, including the list of geographical features and the specifications and rules for collecting Geospatial Data necessary for use in the State. 2. The concerned authorities shall provide the Center with Fundamental and Core Geospatial Data and any updates thereto, based on the standards, specifications, and procedures agreed upon with the Center. 3. The Center shall process the Geospatial Information it receives to align it with the Unified Model and the technical specifications in force at the Center, or to add other features or produce necessary information to be used by federal and local government entities. 4. The Center shall design and establish the National Geospatial Information Database in accordance with the Unified National Model and the standards, specifications, and procedures issued by the Center in coordination with the Competent Authorities.

Article (17) The National Geodetic Reference 1. The Center shall establish and update the National Geodetic Reference in coordination with the concerned authorities and in accordance with their respective geodetic infrastructure, systems, and information. 2. The Geodetic Reference shall consist of the following elements: a. The national network of continuously operating reference stations. b. The national network of tide gauge stations. c. The national horizontal and vertical Geodetic network. d. The horizontal Geodetic Reference, which shall be linked to the updated global reference. e. The national vertical geodetic reference based on the harmonization of tide levels in the State. f. The national gravity model.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Geospatial Information 12 g. The National Geoid of the State. 3. The concerned authority for geodetic infrastructure within the local government shall undertake the following: a. Provide electronic linkage of the geodetic infrastructure at the State level in coordination with the concerned authorities. b. Provide the Center with the geodetic data for all its Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and update such data. c. Provide the Center with the data for the vertical and horizontal geodetic network. d. Provide the Center with the geodetic data for the tide gauge stations and update it. e. Provide the Center with gravity data and update it. f. Provide the Center with the local geoid of each entity, if any. 4. The Center, in coordination with the Competent and concerned authorities, as the case may be, shall operate and provide the services of the National Geodetic Reference, prepare the transformation parameters from local references to the national reference, and issue the necessary instructions for its use in field, marine, and aerial surveying operations and in the production of Geospatial Information at the national level.

Article (18) The National Address Database 1. The National Address is a unified addressing system through which the location of any building or plot of land in the State can be accessed. It consists of main elements, which are the building number, street name, district name, and city/Emirate name. 2. Subject to the local policies and regulations, the Center shall establish, update, and manage the National Address Database in accordance with the standards and specifications issued by the Center in this regard, and shall submit it to the Cabinet for approval. 3. The concerned authorities shall provide the Center with information related to the National Address and any updates thereto. 4. The Center shall operate and provide the services of the National Address, and shall issue the mechanisms and instructions necessary for its implementation, updating, and use at

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Cabinet Resolution of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Geospatial Information 13 the State level. All federal government entities shall use it in their official transactions, in accordance with the mechanisms and decisions issued by the Center in this regard, and shall provide technical consultations on the modification of duplicate names in coordination with the Competent Authorities. 5. The addressing system applied in each Emirate shall remain in effect until the requirements for the transition to the National Address Database are completed, in accordance with the Decree by Law, this Resolution, and the resolutions issued in implementation thereof.

Article (19) The National Gazetteer of Geographical Names 1. The Center, in coordination with the Competent Authorities and concerned authorities, as the case may be, shall establish, update, and manage the National Gazetteer of Geographical Names in accordance with the national standards and specifications issued in this regard. 2. Without prejudice to intellectual property rights, the concerned authorities shall provide the Center with the geographical names located within their geographical scope and any updates thereto. 3. The Center shall operate and provide the services of the National Gazetteer of Geographical Names and issue the mechanisms and instructions necessary for its implementation, updating, and use at the State level. All federal government entities shall use it in their official transactions and documents, in accordance with the mechanisms and decisions issued by the Center in this regard.

Article (21) Geospatial Information Security 1. The concerned authorities shall comply with the Geospatial Information Security and classification manual issued by the Center, in coordination with the concerned authorities. 2. In the event of crises and emergencies, any Person or entity shall be obliged to provide the Center with the Geospatial Information it requests. 3. In the event of any threat to national security or the interests of the State, or the existence of serious risks to public health or public safety or the safety of property, related to Geospatial Information or any other associated threats, the Center, in coordination with the concerned authorities, may take the necessary measures, including obliging the licensee or permittee to carry out specific activities related to the nature of their work within or outside the State. 4. The concerned authorities that provide Geospatial Information shall periodically update their data in accordance with the approved technical standards, in a manner that ensures the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information provided to the Center. 5. The concerned authorities, when collecting, using, or exchanging Geospatial Information, shall comply with the approved controls and procedures, in a manner that ensures the confidentiality of data and that it is not used or published without the approval of the Competent Authority.

Article (22) Geospatial Information Infrastructure and Technical Services 1. The Center, in coordination with the concerned authorities, shall establish and manage a national platform for Geospatial Information and mapping services and shall establish the necessary mechanisms for its use. 2. Federal government entities shall be obliged to obtain Geospatial Information through the platform referred to in Clause (1) of this Article.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Geospatial Information 15 3. The Center shall enable access to the national platform for Geospatial Information and mapping services for the concerned authorities and any beneficiary party through electronic linkage between the platform and those parties, in accordance with the applicable legislation.

Article (24) Grievances 1. Any person against whom a decision has been issued in implementation of this Resolution may file a grievance before the Grievances Committee, which shall be formed for this purpose by a decision of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the head of the Competent Authority, as the case may be, within (30) thirty days from the date of being notified of the decision, provided that the grievance is reasoned and accompanied by all supporting documents and evidence. 2. The grievance shall be decided upon within (30) thirty days from the date of its submission. The Committee shall issue its decision either to accept or reject the grievance. Failure to respond within the said period shall be deemed a rejection of the grievance. 3. The decision issued regarding the grievance shall be final.