In application of the provisions of this Law by Decree, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context otherwise requires:
State: United Arab Emirates.
Cabinet: The Cabinet of the State.
Minister: Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Authority: Federal Protocol and Strategic Narrative Authority.
Chairman: Chairman of the Authority.
Guests of State: The guests of the Head of State and its leaders including official delegations, VIPs, and those are determined by a decision issued by the Chairman of the Authority.
Secretary General: Secretary General of the Authority.
Strategic Narrative: Providing and make available knowledge of the contributions and positive role of the State’s founders and leaders in all fields, including strategic, humanitarian, social, intellectual and charitable fields, whether at the national, regional or international level.

In accordance with the provisions of this Law by Decree, a federal authority called (the Federal Protocol and Strategic Narrative Authority) shall be established, and it shall have all the competences and powers necessary to achieve its objectives. The authority shall have legal personality, financial and administrative independence, and legal capacity to act, and it shall report to the Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The headquarters of the Authority shall be in the city of Abu Dhabi, and the Chairman of the Authority may establish branches or offices thereof inside or outside the State after the approval of the Minister.

The Authority aims to provide, organise and manage everything related to the reception, accommodation and visits of State Guests, and the visits of the Head of State and its leaders, according to the highest standards; work to elevate the concepts of Strategic Narrative and highlight the positive and inspiring aspects of the personalities of the State’s founders and leaders and their contribution to achieving the welfare and prosperity of humanity at the national and international levels, and to provide the State’s Guests with an opportunity to get to know them.

The Authority shall be competent to:
1. Lay down, develop and implement policies, strategies and plans related to the reception, accommodation, and visits of State Guests and organising their meetings.
2. Lay down, develop and implement policies, strategies and plans related to the visits of the Head of State, its leaders, official delegations and envoys, and follow up on the accompanying media aspects in coordination with the concerned authorities.
3. Develop plans and implement programmes related to the management of media affairs for the Strategic Narrative in coordination with the concerned authorities.
4. Follow-up on and implement initiatives and programmes related to the Strategic Narrative inside or outside the State.
5. Coordinate with various global, regional and local mass media and present media strategies that help build trust with the public.
6. Set new standards for the Strategic Narrative and establish work methods aimed at sharing visions and focusing on the human being in coordination with the concerned authorities.
7. Develop and implement the digital strategy related to the Strategic Narrative.
8. Undertake any other competencies entrusted thereto by virtue of a Cabinet or Ministerial resolution.

The Authority shall be managed by a Chairman who is appointed by a Federal Decree upon a proposal by the Minister.

The Chairman of the Authority shall exercise all the powers and authorities necessary to enable the Authority to achieve its objectives, including the following competences:
1. Approving the policies and strategies related to the work of the Authority, and submitting them to the Minister for approval.
2. Approving the initiatives, projects and programmes related to the work of the Authority, and submitting them to the Minister for approval.
3. Follow-up on the Authority’s achievements and the results of implementing the approved initiatives, projects and programmes, and issuing the necessary directives in this regard.
4. Approving the draft general budget and final account of the Authority, and submitting them to the Minister for approval.
5. Approving the Authority’s draft internal regulations and systems related to financial and technical affairs, human resources and the organisational structure and submit them to the Minister to issue them.
6. Concluding agreements and memoranda of understanding related to the Authority’s work, taking into account the applicable legislation.
7. Forming executive and advisory committees, and determining their remuneration, in accordance with the systems and regulations in force in the Authority. These committees may include representatives from government agencies, the private sector, and those with experience and competence.
8. Any other tasks or powers assigned thereto by the Cabinet or the Minister.
The Chairman of the Authority may delegate any of his powers to the Secretary General or any committee formed by virtue of a decision issued by the Minister.

1. The Authority shall have a Secretary General with the rank of Minister, who shall be appointed by virtue of a Federal Decree based on the Minister’s nomination.
2. The Secretary General shall be assisted by a number of advisors, experts and employees, who shall be appointed by virtue of a decision issued by the Secretary General, in accordance with the regulations and systems in force in the Authority.

The Secretary General shall supervise the work progress of the Authority, and is responsible to the president for following up and implementing its decisions. To that end, he shall have all the necessary competences and powers to verify the proper work progress of the Authority, including the following:
1. Follow-up on the implementation of the Authority’s policies, strategies, plans and programmes.
2. Preparing the annual draft budget and the final account of the Authority and submitting them to the Chairman of the Authority.
3. Approve the Authority’s internal regulations and systems related to financial and technical affairs, human resources and the organisational structure and submit them to the Chairman of the Authority.
4. Preparing periodic reports on the Authority’s work progress.
5. Represent the Authority before courts and others inside and outside the State.
6. Opening and managing bank accounts on behalf of the Authority inside the State in accordance with the regulations and systems in force in the Authority.
7. Appointing advisors, experts and employees in accordance with the systems in force in the Authority.
8. Forming committees and work teams to assist the Authority’s Executive Management in performing its tasks.
9. Issuing decisions in accordance with the regulations and systems in force in the Authority.
10. Concluding contracts and agreements to which the Authority is a party in accordance with the systems in forces therein.
11. Any other tasks assigned thereto by the Minister or the Chairman.

The Authority’s fiscal year shall commence on the first of January and ends on the thirty-first of December of each year, and the first fiscal year shall commence on the date of enforcement of this Law by Decree and end on the thirty-first of December of the following year.

The Authority shall have an independent annual budget, and the annual revenues shall consist of the following:
1. Financial appropriations allocated to the Authority by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
2. Gifts, grants, bequests and donations approved by the Minister, in a manner that does not conflict with the objectives of the Authority.

All concerned parties are obligated to coordinate with the Authority with regard to the competences entrusted thereto under the provisions of this Law by Decree.

Where there is no special provision in the regulations and systems in force in the Authority, the human resources legislation in force in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi shall apply to the employees of the Authority. The provisions of the Pensions and Retirement Benefits Law in force in the Emirate shall also apply to the citizen employees.

The Minister shall, based on a proposal by the Chairman of the Authority, issue decisions related to financial control of the Authority’s business, appointing an auditor for its accounts, and determining his fees.

Employees of the presidential protocol sector at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, who are determined by virtue of a resolution issued by the Minister upon a proposal by the Chairman of the Authority, shall be transferred to the Authority, with the same salaries and job benefits.

The assets that were allocated for the use of the presidential protocol sector in the Ministry may be transferred to the Authority, after the approval of the Minister, based on a proposal by the Secretary General.

1. Without prejudice to the competences established for the Cabinet in this Law by Decree, the Minister shall issue all resolutions and regulations necessary to implement its provisions.
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of this Law by Decree, the regulations, systems and resolutions in force in the Presidential Protocol Sector shall continue to be in force, until the issuance of the regulations and systems to replace them.

Any provision that violates or contradicts the provisions of this Law by Decree shall be repealed.

This Law by Decree shall be published in the official gazette, and shall enter into force as of 01 December 2021.