For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Law, the following terms and ex-pressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context otherwise requires:
State: The United Arab Emirates.
Forum: The Global Counterterrorism Forum.
Center: The International Center of Excellence for Countering Extremism and Violent Extremism.
Board: The Board of Directors of the Center.
Director: The Executive Director of the Center.

In application of the provisions of this Law, extremism and violent extremism shall mean any action committed by one or more persons or a group motivated by ideas, ideologies, values, or principles that violate public order, endanger the safety and security of society, cause harm to the environment, telecommunications, transportation, or public or private funds, or prevent or hinder the public authorities, places of worship, or educational institutions from performing their functions, or obstruct the implementation of the Constitution, laws, and regulations. The Board of Directors of the Center may add other concepts to clarify the meaning of extremism and violent extremism.

A Center named "The International Center for Excellence for Countering Extremism and Violent Extremism," known as "Hedayah" shall be established and shall have legal personality to carry out its activities, achieve its objectives, and contribute to the achievement of the Forum's objectives. Its headquarters shall be located in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The Center aims to achieve the following:
1. Establish a common platform for dialogue, the exchange of views, and the coordination of efforts with the founding countries of the Forum to counter extremism and violent extremism, within a framework of cooperation and coordination with local institutions and regional and international organizations having similar competence, and to provide purposeful and objective scientific insights.
2. Cooperate with other work teams established under the Forum.
 

In order to achieve its objectives, the Center shall exercise the following competences:
1. Establishing a database for the exchange of information and data with the member states of the Forum.
2. Building capacities, providing programs to counter extremism and violent extremism, and evaluating relevant research and studies.
3. Organizing courses, workshops, lectures, and seminars on related topics.
4. Preparing studies and research in the field of countering extremism and violent extremism.
5. Cooperating and coordinating with the media, and establishing partnerships and cooperation with the public and private sectors.
6. Coordinating with concerned international, regional, and national organizations through joint work plans and programs, and any other activities.
 

1. The Center shall be managed by a Board of Directors consisting of not fewer than ten public figures with international experience, including two senior State officials, who shall be chosen through the nominations of the participating countries of the Forum that have approved the State's initiative to establish the Center. The Board shall be chaired by the host state, and its meetings shall be held therein.
2. The term of membership in the Board shall be determined in accordance with the internal by-laws and regulations of the Center.
3. The Board shall meet at least once every year in the first half thereof, and it may hold extraordinary meetings at the invitation of its Chairman or at the request of two-third its members whenever necessary; and the meeting shall only be valid when attended by the majority of the Board members, including the Chairman. The Board's decisions shall be issued by the majority of the votes of the attending members, and in the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.
4. The Board may form one or more committees from among its members or others to be entrusted with carrying out a specific task or conducting specific research or studies. The committee shall present its findings to the Board to take such actions as it deems appropriate.
 

1. The Board shall have the following competences:
    a. Developing strategies, plans, and programs for the Center, and following up on the implementation thereof in a manner that achieves its objectives.
    b. Issuing the regulations, by-laws, and decisions related to the management of the Center, the enhancement of its activities, and its financial, administrative, and human resources affairs, in a manner consistent with its objectives, and without violating the provisions of this Law.
    c. Approving the annual budget and final account of the Center.
    d. Approving the annual report on the activities of the Center.
    e. Appointing the Executive Director of the Center and other directors.
    f. Appointing external auditors to audit the Center's accounts, and to review and approve their reports.
2. The Board may delegate some of its competences to the Chairman of the Board or to any of its members. The internal regulations of the Center shall determine the matters in respect of which delegation is permitted.

1. The Center shall have an Executive Director who shall be a citizen of the State, appointed by a decision of the Board for a term of three renewable years. The nominee for this position is required to have an interest in the Center's fields of activity and shall possess administrative competence and technical expertise.
2. The Executive Director shall prepare an annual report on the activities of the Center and submit it to the Board of Directors.
3. The internal regulations of the Center shall determine the competences, powers, remuneration, and privileges of the Executive Director and other directors.
 

The annual revenue of the Center shall consist of:
1. Allocations and financial grants from the member states of the Forum.
2. Allocations and financial grants from local institutions and regional and international organizations, as approved by the Board, provided that they do not conflict with the objectives of the Center.
3. Any returns derived from the Center's activities.

The Center's fiscal year shall commence on the first of January and end on the thirty-first of December of each year. By way of exception, the first fiscal year shall commence on the date of entry into force of this Law and end on the thirty-first of December of the following year.

It shall be prohibited to use the Center to carry out any activities that violate the State's legislation, conflict with its interests, or prejudice its internal affairs.

The State shall not, by reason of the presence of the Center within its territory, bear any liability for any acts undertaken or committed by its employees in the course of performing the Center's functions and activities.

The Center's relationship with the Forum shall not preclude the application of the legislation in force in the State to the Center and its employees.

Priority in the appointment of technical and administrative staff shall be accorded to the citizens of the State.

The provisions of Federal Law No. (7) of 1999 Promulgating Pensions and Social Security Law, as amended, shall apply to the employees of the Center who are nationals of the State.

This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force as of the day following the date of its publication. The provisions hereof shall apply to the acts performed as of the date of repeal of the aforementioned Federal Law No. (7) of 2013.