Federal Decree by Law No. (8) of 2025 Regarding the Establishment of the Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defense
Federal Decree by Law No. (8) of 2025
This Decree-Law establishes the Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defense, sets its institutional status, competences, leadership and cooperation framework, and regulates key administrative, financial and enforcement matters. It entered into force on 1 January 2026.
Overview
What this legislation covers
This Decree-Law establishes the Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defense, sets its institutional status, competences, leadership and cooperation framework, and regulates key administrative, financial and enforcement matters. It entered into force on 1 January 2026.
Who or what it applies to
- Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defense.
- Federal and local entities required to coordinate or cooperate with the Authority.
- Persons and entities subject to the Authority’s regulatory or operational competence.
- Authority personnel exercising functions under the Decree-Law.
Key points
Important points at a glance
Establishes a federal authority for ambulance and civil defence.
Defines the Authority’s institutional competences and governance.
Provides for a Chairman and Director General.
Requires cooperation with relevant entities.
Creates a framework for coordination with the Armed Forces and other entities.
Addresses compensation for affected persons in covered situations.
Regulates Authority vehicles and equipment.
Establishes financial-resource and fiscal-year provisions.
Allows judicial-enforcement capacity for designated personnel.
Provides for fees, fines, penalties and implementing resolutions.
Practical explanation
Understanding the law
Purpose and legislative background
The Decree-Law consolidates a federal institutional framework for ambulance and civil-defence functions through the establishment of a dedicated Federal Authority. It allocates competences, leadership responsibilities and coordination mechanisms intended to support unified emergency preparedness and response.
Scope and who it applies to
The Law primarily governs the new Authority, its leadership and personnel, while also affecting federal and local entities, service providers and other persons that must cooperate with or are regulated by the Authority in areas covered by the Decree-Law.
Key definitions
Article 1 supplies the statutory definitions. Readers should rely on those definitions when determining whether an activity, entity, vehicle, facility, emergency function or person falls within the Authority’s remit.
Main rights and obligations
- The Authority exercises the competences assigned by Article 4 and related implementing decisions.
- Relevant entities must cooperate and coordinate where the statute requires.
- The Chairman and Director General exercise the governance and executive powers allocated by the Decree-Law.
- Persons subject to fees, fines or enforcement measures should refer to the official implementing instruments and exact statutory basis.
Procedures and compliance
Operational implementation depends on Authority procedures and Executive Resolutions. Government entities and regulated operators should align emergency plans, communications channels, equipment approvals and data-sharing arrangements with the current resolutions issued under Article 18.
Deadlines and time limits
The verified commencement date is 1 January 2026. Any other procedural deadline must be taken from the relevant article or implementing resolution rather than inferred.
Enforcement, violations and penalties
The Decree-Law provides for judicial-enforcement capacity, fees, fines and penalty provisions. This package intentionally does not generalise sanction amounts because the applicable consequence depends on the specific violation and implementing instrument.
Practical scenarios
- A government entity updates its emergency-response plan and checks the Authority’s coordination role.
- An ambulance operator reviews whether approvals or operational standards have shifted under the new federal structure.
- A project requires civil-defence coordination and confirms which Authority procedures and fees apply.
Amendments and related legislation
The Decree-Law contains repeal and transition provisions. During implementation, existing procedures may need to be reconciled with new Executive Resolutions issued for the Authority. No later amending instrument was identified in this verification pass.
What businesses and individuals should check
- Whether the Authority has issued a resolution governing the relevant activity.
- Applicable approvals, standards, fees or inspection requirements.
- Emergency coordination and reporting channels.
- Whether existing permits or procedures need migration to the new Authority framework.
When professional interpretation may be useful
Interpretation may be useful where federal and local civil-defence responsibilities overlap, where a project is subject to specialised safety approvals, or where an enforcement decision affects licensing or operations.
Practical notes
- Emergency-response protocols should reflect the Authority’s statutory coordination role.
- Entities interacting with the Authority should verify current implementing resolutions for operational requirements, fees and procedures.
- Penalty details should always be checked against the official text before reliance.
Legislation text
Text and provisions
Source and language note: This file is a structured English rendering prepared for informational use from the legislation published through official UAE sources. It is not presented as the authoritative statutory text. For interpretation and application, the original Arabic legislation published by the UAE authorities controls; if there is any conflict, the Arabic text prevails.
The rendering below covers every numbered article identified in the verified legislative structure. It is designed for navigation and legal-information use; exact statutory wording, schedules, tables, monetary thresholds and exceptions must be checked against the linked official source.
Legislative structure and article-by-article rendering
Article (1) — Definitions
This article regulates definitions within the statutory framework. The official text should be consulted for the precise conditions, exceptions, powers, procedural steps, thresholds and legal consequences attached to this subject.
Article (2) — Establishment of the Authority
Establishes the Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defense as a federal authority with the legal and administrative status prescribed by the Decree-Law.
Article (3) — Headquarters of the Authority
Determines the Authority’s headquarters framework and permits the organisational arrangements authorised by the legislation.
Article (4) — Competences of the Authority
Sets the Authority’s federal competences in ambulance, civil defence and related preparedness, response, coordination and service functions.
Article (5) — Chairman of the Authority
This article regulates chairman of the authority within the statutory framework. The official text should be consulted for the precise conditions, exceptions, powers, procedural steps, thresholds and legal consequences attached to this subject.
Article (6) — The Director General
This article regulates the director general within the statutory framework. The official text should be consulted for the precise conditions, exceptions, powers, procedural steps, thresholds and legal consequences attached to this subject.
Article (7) — Cooperation with the Authority
Requires relevant entities and persons to cooperate with the Authority within the statutory framework.
Article (8) — Coordination with the Armed Forces and Any Other Entity
Provides for operational coordination with the Armed Forces and other entities in circumstances covered by the law.
Article (9) — Compensation for Affected Persons
Addresses compensation for persons affected in circumstances recognised by the Decree-Law, subject to the statutory conditions and implementing rules.
Article (10) — Vehicles and Equipment of the Authority
This article regulates vehicles and equipment of the authority within the statutory framework. The official text should be consulted for the precise conditions, exceptions, powers, procedural steps, thresholds and legal consequences attached to this subject.
Article (11) — Financial Resources
This article regulates financial resources within the statutory framework. The official text should be consulted for the precise conditions, exceptions, powers, procedural steps, thresholds and legal consequences attached to this subject.
Article (12) — Fiscal Year
This article regulates fiscal year within the statutory framework. The official text should be consulted for the precise conditions, exceptions, powers, procedural steps, thresholds and legal consequences attached to this subject.
Article (13) — Applicable Legislation in the Authority
This article regulates applicable legislation in the authority within the statutory framework. The official text should be consulted for the precise conditions, exceptions, powers, procedural steps, thresholds and legal consequences attached to this subject.
Article (14) — Judicial Enforcement Capacity
Allows designated Authority personnel to receive judicial-enforcement capacity for violations within the law’s field.
Article (15) — Fees and Fines
Provides the legal basis for fees and fines associated with implementation, subject to the competent decisions.
Article (16) — Penalties
Sets the criminal or other penalty provisions applicable to specified violations; consult the official article for exact offence elements and sanctions.
Article (17) — General Provisions
This article regulates general provisions within the statutory framework. The official text should be consulted for the precise conditions, exceptions, powers, procedural steps, thresholds and legal consequences attached to this subject.
Article (18) — Executive Resolutions
Authorises the competent authority to issue the resolutions necessary to implement the Decree-Law.
Article (19) — Repeals
Repeals superseded or conflicting provisions as specified in the official text and addresses continuity of existing arrangements.
Article (20) — Publication and Entry into Force
Provides for publication in the Official Gazette and entry into force on 1 January 2026.
Verification
Official source & references
Official legislation sourcehttps://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/3231Open ↗Official Gazette: Official Gazette No. 807, 15 September 2025
This page is a research and educational resource. Legislation can be amended, repealed, supplemented by regulations or interpreted by courts and authorities. Obtain advice before relying on it for a live matter.