UAE charity and fundraising explained: What are the rules?

The law makes provisions for good causes, as long as licensed charities are involved

Workers unload a food collection truck at the UAE Food Bank in Al Quoz, Dubai, Officials stressed all food donations must be made via such charities and cannot be independently run by members of the public. Pawan Singh / The National

A minister said there were examples of residents collecting large quantities of food for good causes, only for the produce to be sold on for a profit. Photo: Dubai Municipality

Chefs at Modern Bakery in Al Quoz, Dubai prepare Ramadan iftar meals for Dar Al Ber Society, a licensed charity. Antonie Robertson / The National

Charity appeals to help animal shelters are common but will not be allowed under fundraising laws, unless the organisation had partnered up with a licensed charity.

Workers collect water from a free fridge during Ramadan. Officials stressed that food handouts should only be run by licensed charities. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Ministers have set out a new federal law that governs charitable work and fundraising in the UAE.

It effectively strengthens existing legislation brought in to stop people from illegally fundraising from members of the public and misusing that money - particularly for crime or terrorism.

Unless a person or community group had permission from a licensed charity, such as Emirates Red Crescent or Dar Al Ber Society, they would be breaking the law by 'fundraising' - asking others for money for a cause.

The new law is unchanged in that regard. What it does is addresses grey areas, such as can you as a resident collect food, clothing and goods and give them away?

Here, using an official Q&A from the Ministry of Community Development and previous reporting, we explain how the law works:

What is the new charity and fundraising law - and why do we need it?

With the Donations Federal Regulatory Law No. (3) of 2021, the government seeks to regulate how money and items are donated to good causes.

Most countries have such legislation and it is designed to protect the public and ensure donations get to the people they were intended for.

In October, when the ministry first said the law was in the works, assistant undersecretary Nasser Ismail said it would further meet international standards in "countering money laundering, terrorism financing and weapons proliferation".

In 2008, federal legislation criminalised the collection of any donations without the permission of what was then the Ministry of Social Affairs. Federal laws in 2014 then tackled donations used for terrorist financing, and in 2015, legislation was brought by Dubai's government that outlawed a donation to any unlicensed charity.

The 2021 federal law updates those - and essentially fills in the blanks.

Why is the new law important?

Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, speaks to the media at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Ministry of Community Development

It addresses a number of the grey areas that remained. Previous legislation focused on raising money.

The new law expands that to mention food and goods.

At the start of the pandemic, as thousands lost their jobs and some their homes, community groups collected food and essentials to help those in need.

Soon the government, which ran a campaign to get businesses to make 100 million meals for people in the UAE and the Arab world, had to tell the public to leave such work to its personnel.

Food donation and animals

But the donation of food and medicines remained a grey area. The law now says the public cannot distribute food without permission from a licensed charity. It further says charities themselves must ensure any goods received are stored properly, are in date, and to co-ordinate with authorities.

Residents often ask The National if they can donate money to animal shelters and charities. The legal material published on Thursday does not mention animals, but you would be breaking the law by donating to a shelter that was not a partner of one of the big charities.

What else does it say?

Much of the new law actually relates to licensed charities and how they operate.

Just as a resident or community group must seek permission, charities themselves must co-ordinate with certain authorities before embarking on campaigns or asking the public for donations.

A charity looking to build a school abroad would need the permission of certain government departments before they begin sending money abroad and buying materials.

In October, Mr Ismail said that non-profit organisations “must exercise due diligence to avoid any wrongdoings related to money laundering”.

What does the law allow?

Officials sought to stress that the regulations are not intended to stop people from giving. They also contain an element of common sense.

Hessa Tahlak, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Community Development, said the law makes provision for helping a friend, acquaintance or someone in need.

A person can privately collect funds or items from “trusted people” and donate it to a person he or she knows, she said.

Such an act does not have to go through the authorities and can be left to best judgment.

“Tracking items that are being donated and the person carrying out the donations is very important," Ms Tahlak told The National.

"This protects the donors. We want to tell people that if you don't know where these items are going, whether it's cash or items, don't take the risk."

Similarly, readers of The National often get in touch to generously offer to help people pay their medical bills, if their insurance has run out. Most hospitals have offices which facilitate such arrangements, and there is nothing in the law that prohibits helping to pay someone's bills.

“We love giving. It's in the culture of the people who live in this country that they love giving, and we don't want to stop that, but we do want to protect them,” Ms Tahlak added.

Can I donate to good causes abroad?

While the authorities stress the need for caution, there is no known clause in this law, or previous ones, that would entirely prevent you from donating to a major international charity.

What it does say is that no transfers should be made, by an individual or licensed charity, that go against the law's executive regulations. This is the full letter of the law and how it will be implemented, which has not yet been released.

A Q&A document from the ministry says that anyone sending money abroad should have "methods of proving donations went to beneficiaries or spending them for their specific purposes".

It further tells licensed charities is that they should co-ordinate closely with foreign affairs officials on any charitable work that involves sending money abroad.