SHARJAH, H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued Decree-Law No. (1) of 2020 on the organisation of the Authority of Initiatives Implementation and Infrastructure Development (AIIID) in the Emirate of Sharjah, “Mubadara”.

The AIIID’s headquarters shall be based in the City Sharjah and may establish branches within and outside the Emirate and upon the approval of the Sharjah Executive Council (SEC).

The Authority aims to implement the initiatives and promote the infrastructure development in the Emirate of Sharjah, contributing in ensuring proper implementation of government capital initiatives and projects related to infrastructure and in all fields in accordance with the highest standards; creating the infrastructure for government development projects in the emirate; ensuring optimal use of the human and financial resources; and enhancing the urban, social and economic development in the emirate.

The Decree-Law included a number of competencies necessary to achieve the Authority’s objectives and carry out its functions The new Decree-Law also stated that the Director-General of the Authority of Initiatives Implementation and Infrastructure Development (AIIID), “Mubadara” shall be appointed by an Emiri Decree, assisted by a sufficient number of employees and experts in accordance with its organisational structure. He shall have necessary authority and powers to manage the Authority’s affairs and take the needed decisions to achieve its various goals.

At the suggestion of the Authority’s Director-General and the approval of the Sharjah Executive Council, the organisational structure of the Authority will be issued by Emiri decree.

The Decree-Law defines the financial resources of the Authority, including the government allocation , its own revenues as a result of exercising its powers, the Authority’s investment proceeds; as well as any other resources approved by the Ruler of Sharjah.

The Authority may borrow and request bank facilities to finance the government initiatives and projects.

Upon the proposal of the Authority’s Director-General, the Executive Council shall issue decisions necessary to implement the provisions of Decree-Law and topics that are not stipulated in the Decree-Law. Apart from that, the Authority’s Director-General shall issue other administrative decisions related to the Authority’s objectives and powers.

The Authority shall be exempted from all local government taxes and fees in all its forms and manifestations, with the exception of consumption charges.

The Sharjah Consultative Council shall be notified of this Decree-Law immediately upon its convening.

The Decree-Law is effective from the date of its issuance and other competent authorities should implement its provisions each in its respective field, and shall be published in the Official Gazette. Any provision contrary to its provisions shall be repealed.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH, H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued Law No. (5) of 2020 concerning the organisation of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, AASTMT, Sharjah branch.

According to the Law, the AASTMT Sharjah branch, is aimed to introduce educational programmes in science, technology and maritime transport, and develop them to achieve institutional excellence, support and develop the maritime transport sector in the Emirate, support scientific and research in the fields of science, technology and maritime transport, and document scientific links, exchange of expertise and technical and cultural information with local and international institutions related to the goals and functions of the Academy and its branch.

The Law also specified the specialisations of the AASTMT’s branch including but not limited to setting policies and strategies, developing educational, professional and training programmes, preparing scientific research, organising and participating in exhibitions, conferences and scientific, cultural and maritime transport activities and events, establishing partnerships and agreements with local and international institutions to support AASTMT’s branch, promoting the AASTMT’s branch locally and internationally.

The Law defines the two languages of teaching which are Arabic and English, and upon approval of the Board of Trustees of the AASTMT’s Branch in Sharjah, it is permissible to add other languages according to the nature of the programmes and courses required.

According to the Law, the council represents the supreme authority in the Academy’s branch in Sharjah and is formed by a chairman and a number of no less than six members who are nominated equally by the government of Sharjah and the Academy.

The council’s membership period is set for three years, and it may be extended for a similar period or periods, starting from the council’s first meeting, and the council continues to conduct its business when its term ends until a new council is formed, and it is possible to reappoint those whose membership period has expired.

In order to achieve the objectives of the Academy’s branch in Sharjah and exercise its competencies and powers in accordance with the plans, policies, programmes and regulations approved and applied by the Academy and the requirements for academic accreditation in the UAE, the Board shall have the required powers in this regard.

The AASTMT’s branch in Sharjah shall have an executive committee formed by the President of the Academy and the membership of a number of members of the higher management of the Academy who represent the academic fields and the supporting administrative and technical sectors, in addition to the membership of two experts and specialists in the field of management of higher education institutions in the country selected by the Council.

The Executive Committee meets at least once every three months.

The Academy’s branch in Sharjah shall have a director who shall be appointed by a decision of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Academy’s Branch based on the approval of the Council and the nomination of the Executive Committee, and he is assisted by the deans of colleges and heads of administrative sectors in their various fields of competence, and their specialisations shall be determined according to the branch’s regulations in accordance with the regulations of the Academy regarding the colleges and programmes approved by the Council and approved by the chairman.

The Director of the Academy’s branch also works under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Academy Branch in Sharjah and the Executive Committee of the branch, and is responsible to them in the exercise of his duties and powers.

The Law stipulates that the financial resources for the Academy branch in Sharjah shall consist of the Branch’s self-generated income as a result of exercising its functions, proceeds of branch investments, donations, gifts, bequests, endowment resources, and any other resources approved by the Board of Trustees of the Academy’s Branch in Sharjah.

All fixed and movable assets and all technical and technological rights and regulations of the Academy branch in Sharjah shall belong to the Government of Sharjah, with the exception of intellectual property rights related to the content of the educational and training programmes and syllabi presented in the branch and registered with the Academy, and shall be the property of AASTMT.

Sharjah Academy branch funds are considered public funds and are exempt from all local government taxes and fees in all their forms and types except for consumer fees.

This law shall be effective from the date of its issuance, and the concerned authorities shall implement it in their respective fields, and it shall be published in the Official Gazette.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, The UAE has condemned the terrorist attack that targeted the presidential palace in the Afghan capital, Kabul, while Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, performed his constitutional oath on Monday.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation affirmed the UAE’s utter condemnation of such criminal acts and firm rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of religious and human values and principles.

The Ministry also reiterated the UAE’s solidarity with Afghanistan and expressed hope that peace would prevail in order to achieve the aspirations and hopes of its friendly people.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH, H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued Law No. 04 of 2020 on Cultural Heritage in the Emirate of Sharjah.

This law applies to the intangible and tangible cultural heritage and underwater cultural heritage, and the foreign tangible heritage in the Emirate of Sharjah, within the limits stipulated in this law and the legislation in force of UAE.

The law stipulate that the tangible cultural heritage in the emirate is its public property, whether it is on its lands or in its territorial waters, or it was discovered as a result of legitimate or illegal excavations or by accidentally excavated, except for the tangible heritage whose ownership proves to it by a legal basis and it may acquire it in accordance with the provisions of this law and the applicable legislation In the UAE.

The concerned authority may order the payment of a suitable financial reward for those who discover a tangible heritage and inform the concerned authority about it during the specified period in accordance with the provisions of this law, and the relevant authority determines the amount of the reward.

The concerned authority should take the necessary measures to protect cultural heritage sites in coordination with government agencies.

The law includes actions that punish any offender with imprisonment for a period of not less than two years and a fine of no less than AED500,000 and no more than AED10 million.

The Antiquities Law No. 01 of 1992 shall be annulled in the Emirate of Sharjah.

The Law is effective from the date of issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette. Other competent authorities should implement its provisions each in its respective field.

Source: Emirates New Agency