For the purposes 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 requires otherwise:
The State: The United Arab Emirates.
The Emirate: Any Emirate of the State.
The Authority: The Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defense established pursuant to this Decree by Law.
Competent Authority: The local authority competent in ambulance and civil defense affairs in the Emirate.
Concerned Entities: Federal and local government entities and private sector institutions involved in providing assistance for ambulance and civil defense measures.
The Chairman: The Chairman of the Authority.
The Director General: The Director General of the Authority.
Civil Defense: A set of procedures and measures aimed at protecting and ensuring the safety of lives, property, and facilities during disasters and emergencies, whether natural or man-made, and includes firefighting, rescue, ambulance, evacuation operations, as well as raising public awareness regarding prevention and safety measures.
Event: Any natural or man-made occurrence that poses a threat to life, causes loss of property or life, or disrupts the normal course of life in society. Such events include hazards, emergencies, crises, and disasters.
Hazards: Any event that may occur naturally or as a result of human action, whether by mistake, negligence, failure to follow proper procedures, or due to systematic deficiencies resulting in material or moral harm to members of society, including injuries, fatalities, property losses, and environmental, economic, social, and health damages.
Ambulance: The provision of immediate and urgent medical assistance to individuals experiencing an emergency or sudden injury, with the aim of preserving their lives and preventing deterioration of their health condition until they receive full medical care and are transported to the nearest healthcare facility.
 

1. Pursuant to the provisions of this Decree by Law, a federal authority named the "Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defense" shall be established, reporting to the Cabinet. It shall have legal personality, financial and administrative independence, legal capacity, and executive and regulatory powers to carry out its functions in accordance with the provisions of this Decree by Law and the regulations and resolutions issued in implementation thereof.
2. The Authority shall supersede the Civil Defense Authority established pursuant to the aforementioned Federal Decree by Law No. (35) of 2024. It shall also supersede the National Guard Command with respect to the ownership of the National Ambulance company. The Authority may also supersede any other entities by a resolution of the President of the State.
3. The Authority shall supersede the entities mentioned in Clause (2) of this Article in all their competences, services, rights, and financial, legal, and legislative obligations, and all their assets and properties shall vest therein.
4. Employees from the entities mentioned in Clause (2) of this Article shall be transferred to the Authority by a resolution of the Cabinet. The service period of the employees in their previous entities shall be considered continuous with their service at the Authority. The transferred employees shall continue to be subject, in accordance with the provisions of this Clause, to the same salaries, allowances, bonuses, and retirement pensions systems that were applicable in their previous entities, until the issuance of the Authority's own regulations and systems.
5. All assets, properties, allocations, financial budgets, rights, and obligations of the entities mentioned in Clause (2) of this Article shall be transferred to the Authority by a resolution of the Cabinet.

The main headquarters of the Authority shall be in the city of Abu Dhabi, and the Chairman may, subject to the approval of the Cabinet, establish branches or offices within the State.

The Authority is the federal entity competent in ambulance and civil defense affairs, and in this regard, it shall exercise the following competences:
1. Propose and prepare policies, strategies, and legislation related to ambulance and civil defense affairs, in coordination with the Competent Authorities and Concerned Entities, and submit them to the Cabinet for approval.
2. Study potential events, hazards, and disasters and prepare the necessary plans for their management, in coordination with the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.
3. Prepare prevention programs for potential hazards, their specific requirements, and the necessary plans for managing these hazards, in coordination with the Competent Authorities and Concerned Entities.
4. Establish the necessary controls and requirements for securing buildings and facilities, and establish the necessary systems for securing buildings and facilities against fires, including their controls, requirements, scope of application, and other related provisions, in coordination with the Competent Authorities, Concerned Entities, the Central Bank, and other entities, and submit them to the Cabinet for approval.
5. Establish a public warning system for the population against potential hazards, in coordination with the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.
6. Prepare population evacuation plans and supervise their implementation, in coordination with the Competent Authorities and Concerned Entities.
7. Supervise the preparation of shelter and camp plans, including identifying their locations, equipping them, and managing them during the occurrence of hazards, in coordination with the Competent Authorities and Concerned Entities.
8. Coordinate with the competent authorities responsible for internal security and safety, particularly oil companies, airports, and other vital facilities, to organize joint plans and the mechanism for providing support from the Authority to these entities upon request.
9. Prepare and implement training and awareness programs, simulation exercises, and joint exercises in the field of ambulance and civil defense for specialized personnel and volunteers.
10. Monitor the risks of radiological, chemical, and biological contamination in times of peace and war, and take necessary confrontation measures, in cooperation and coordination with the Competent Authorities and Concerned Entities.
11. Coordinate and cooperate with the Emirates regarding ambulance and civil defense affairs.
12. Contribute to restoring normal life in disaster areas and resuming the services of damaged public and private facilities, in coordination with the Competent Authorities and Concerned Entities.
13. Provide ambulance and rapid response services for emergency cases that require immediate and urgent medical assistance to individuals during the pre-hospital stage.
14. Transport the injured from the scene of the event to the nearest medical facility.
15. Provide consultancy services in the fields of ambulance and civil defense.
16. Hold conferences, seminars, and workshops related to the Authority's fields of work, in coordination with the Concerned Entities.
17. Establish and organize a comprehensive database of information and data related to the Authority's competences, in coordination with the Competent Authorities and Concerned Entities.
18. Propose accession to international treaties and agreements, and propose memoranda of understanding and partnership agreements with countries, organizations, and regional and international bodies related to the Authority's competences, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Concerned Entities.
19. Coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Concerned Entities to represent the State in regional and international organizations, exhibitions, and conferences in fields related to the Authority.
20. Any other competences assigned thereto by virtue of laws, regulations, or resolutions issued by the Cabinet.

The Authority shall have a Chairman, whose appointment and grade shall be determined by a Federal Decree, who shall exercise the powers vested therein by the provisions of this Decree by Law and the applicable laws and legislations, including the following tasks and powers:
1. Propose the general policy and strategic direction of the Authority and supervise its implementation following approval by the Cabinet.
2. Propose policies, strategies, and legislation related to the Authority's competences, in coordination with the Concerned Entities, and submit them to the Cabinet for approval.
3. Propose draft laws, decrees, regulations, and resolutions related to the Authority's competences, in coordination with the Concerned Entities, and submit them to the Cabinet.
4. Supervise the development and approval of the Authority's strategic plan and its executive programs and monitor their implementation.
5. Issue the necessary resolutions to ensure the proper conduct of work at the Authority, monitor its achievements and the results of the implementation of approved policies, strategies, programs, and initiatives, issue directives thereon, and submit periodic reports to the Cabinet.
6. Approve the Authority's organizational structure and submit it to the Cabinet for approval.
7. Provide general supervision over the workflow in the Authority and issue the necessary decisions for that purpose.
8. Approve the draft annual budget and the closing accounts of the Authority, and submit them to the Ministry of Finance to be incorporated into the unified budget and closing accounts laws, and review budget execution reports according to the approved appropriations.
9. Appoint and terminate the Authority's employees in accordance with the legislation in force at the Authority.
10. Represent the Authority before all entities, both inside and outside the State, in accordance with the powers and legislation in force at the Authority.
11. Appoint one or more external auditors to audit the Authority's accounts if necessary, and determine their fees.
12. Any other powers or tasks vested therein by virtue of laws, regulations, or resolutions issued by the Cabinet.
The Chairman may delegate some of their tasks or competences to any of the Directors General, provided that the delegation is in writing and explicitly defined.

The Authority shall have one or more Directors General, each of whom shall be appointed and have their grade determined by a Federal Decree upon the proposal of the Chairman. Each Director General, within their scope of competence, shall undertake the following tasks and powers:
1. Participate in formulating the policies of the Authority and its affiliated sectors, their strategic plans and programs, and supervise their implementation following approval.
2. Prepare draft laws, decrees, regulations, and resolutions related to the affiliated organizational units, and present them to the Chairman to take the necessary actions thereon.
3. Monitor the preparation of the draft annual budget and the closing accounts for the affiliated sectors, submit them to the Chairman, and oversee the implementation of the budget within the approved appropriations.
4. Supervise the affiliated organizational units, empower them, develop work plans and main programs, monitor their achievements and performance results, propose necessary systems and procedures to contribute to enhancing and developing performance, and submit periodic reports thereon to the Chairman.
5. Participate in representing the Authority in matters related to the affiliated organizational units, before related entities inside and outside the State, and in its relationship with third parties and before the judiciary, in accordance with the powers vested therein.
6. Submit periodic and annual reports on the workflow of the Authority to the Chairman for presentation to the Cabinet.
7. Appoint and terminate the Authority's employees in accordance with the powers and legislation in force at the Authority.
8. Conclude contracts and agreements necessary for the exercise of the Authority's competences in accordance with the legislation in force at the Authority.
9. Any other tasks related to the nature of the Director General's duties or assigned thereto by the Chairman.
The Director General may delegate some of their tasks or powers to any senior employee of the Authority they deem appropriate, provided that the delegation is in writing and explicitly defined.

1. Competent Authorities and Concerned Entities shall provide the Authority with all information or data it requests related to ambulance and civil defense works and measures.
2. Competent Authorities shall coordinate and cooperate with the Authority in providing services related to ambulance and civil defense works and measures, whenever necessary.
3. Competent Authorities shall take into account the policies and strategies related to ambulance and civil defense in force at the Authority when issuing their own policies, strategies, and related plans in these areas.
4. Competent Authorities may request support from the Authority in implementing ambulance and civil defense measures.
5. Authorities competent in issuing licenses for any building or facility shall not issue such licenses before the concerned parties submit an official certificate issued by the Authority stating that the building or facility complies with the prevention and safety requirements.

1. Coordination shall be carried out between the Authority, the Armed Forces, and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, in the following matters:
    a.    Establishing the foundations of cooperation between the Authority, the Armed Forces, and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.
    b.    Determining the statistical information and data provided by the Armed Forces and the method of provision in times of war.
    c.    Implementing civil defense operations and instructions in the camps and units of the Armed Forces.
2. By a resolution of the Cabinet, any other ministry or federal entity may be added as one of the entities with which coordination shall be established.

1. The Authority shall provide fair compensation to anyone who suffers damage as a result of civil defense drills or operations, provided that the affected person submits a claim for compensation within (60) sixty days from the date of occurrence, unless the failure to claim within the said period was due to a reason beyond their control.
2. A committee of experts shall be formed by a decision of the Chairman to consider compensation claims, and shall decide thereon within (60) sixty days from the date of their submission.
3. The concerned person may submit a grievance against the committee's decision before the Chairman within (30) thirty days from the date of being notified of its decision, without prejudice to the laws, regulations, and resolutions in force in the State.

1. In cases of hazards, the Authority may secure its urgent and emergency needs through direct procurement without resorting to the tender system.
2. Vehicles, equipment, devices, and tools imported for the Authority are exempt from any federal and local customs duties.

The financial resources of the Authority shall consist of the following:
1. The annual financial appropriations allocated to the Authority in the State's general budget.
2. The revenues obtained by the Authority from the exercise of its competences and tasks.
3. Any other financial resources or grants approved by the Chairman.

The fiscal year of the Authority shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December of each year, provided that the first fiscal year of the Authority shall commence on the date of the entry into force of the provisions of this Decree by Law and shall end on the thirty-first day of December of the following year.

The human resources, financial, contractual, accounting, and procurement legislation in force at the Ministry of Interior shall apply to the Authority.

The employees of the Authority who are designated by a resolution from the Minister of Justice in agreement with the Chairman shall have the capacity of judicial enforcement officers for the purpose of establishing violations of the provisions of this Decree by Law or the resolutions issued in implementation thereof, within the scope of each of their competences.

The Cabinet, upon the proposal of the Minister of Finance and after coordination with the Chairman, shall issue a resolution specifying the fees to be collected from beneficiaries of the ambulance and civil defense services provided by the Authority, and the fines imposed for violating the provisions of this Decree by Law and the resolutions issued in implementation thereof.

1. Anyone who commits any of the following acts shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding (6) six months or a fine:
    a. Violating the provisions of this Decree by Law or the regulations or resolutions issued in implementation thereof.
    b. Committing an act or intentional omission that results in the disabling or stoppage of any machinery, equipment, and installations that are installed for ambulance and civil defense purposes. In cases of non-intentional acts, the perpetrator shall be liable for the value of the machinery, equipment, and installations they damaged or for the costs of their re-installation.
2. In cases of hazards, the penalty for the acts stipulated in Clause (1) of this Article shall be imprisonment for a term not less than two months and a fine of not less than (AED 20,000) twenty thousand dirhams and not exceeding (AED 250,000) two hundred and fifty thousand dirhams, or one of these two penalties.
3. The imposition of the penalties stipulated in this Decree by Law shall not prejudice any more severe penalty provided for in any other law.

The provisions of this Decree by Law shall not prejudice the powers vested in the Competent Authority to take ambulance and civil defense measures in accordance with the legislation governing their affairs.

Without prejudice to the competences vested in the Cabinet by virtue of the provisions of this Decree by Law, the Chairman shall issue the necessary resolutions for the implementation of the provisions of this Decree by Law.

1. Federal Decree by Law No. (35) of 2024 Regarding the Reorganization of the Civil Defense Authority is hereby repealed, as shall any provision that violates or contradicts the provisions of this Decree by Law.
2. All regulations and resolutions issued in implementation of the Federal Decree by Law No. (35) of 2024 referred to in Clause (1) of this Article shall remain in force to the extent that they do not conflict with the provisions of this Decree by Law, until the issuance of the regulations, systems, and resolutions that supersede them, provided that the Authority shall submit them to the Cabinet within a maximum period of one year from the date of publication of this Decree by Law.

This Decree by Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force as of January 1, 2026.