The decision prohibits receiving requests and collecting donations for Haj and Umrah without getting a permit
Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Thursday issued Cabinet decision No. 32 of 2018 on Haj and Umrah.
The decision, which was published in the latest issue of the Official Gazette, prohibits any natural or legal person from exercising the business of arranging or advertising the service of Haj Al Badal (proxy Haj), without obtaining a licence from the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE).
The decision also prohibits receiving requests and collecting donations for Haj and Umrah without getting a permit.
It provides for the establishment of a licensing committee in the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments to decide on the application to grant or waive the Haj and Umrah permit besides any related requests.
The committee will be responsible for approving contracts concluded between Haj campaigns as well as the merger and transfer of pilgrims in campaigns.
The committee shall also have the authority to adopt the regulations and conditions submitted by the GAIAE, which will also have the responsibility of determining the number of pilgrims registered in campaigns, setting quotas and deciding on requests for Haj and Umrah campaigns.
Shaikh Mohammads decision also stipulates the establishment of an audit committee on service contracts, a Haj Affairs Office. Articles 14 and 15 stipulate the obligations of the campaigns inside the UAE and during the Haj season.
Meanwhile, Shaikh Mohammad also issued a Cabinet decision No. 31 of 2018 on the community-supported agriculture.
The decision, published in the Official Gazette, stipulates that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change shall implement the provisions of the decision, which includes 14 articles dealing with ways to utilise residential spaces and roofs of buildings and educational institutions to develop, expand and benefit from agricultural activity and serve the society.
The decision, according to Article 2, aims to improve the environment, diversify the agricultural production, enhance diversity and food security, instill and strengthen the culture of agriculture and food production, and help establish a well-informed generation able to contribute to the sustainable agricultural development in the UAE.
The decision also aims to meet some of the daily agricultural needs of families, promote the concept of sustainable cities and increase the green area, as well as encouraging smart agriculture, such as soilless agriculture, organic agriculture and the optimal use of water by reusing it in community-supported agriculture.
Articles 3 and 4 also highlight the role of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in promoting for eco-friendly agriculture, community-supported agriculture seasons, characteristics of community-supported plants, utilisation of areas in educational institutions, houses and residential complexes and government buildings in community-supported agriculture and rationalisation of irrigation and provision of seeds.
