Service Name
Fundraising Permits
About the service
In line with our vision to provide a "dignified life for all” members of the Community, the Department of Community Development (DCD) issues fundraising permits considering the relative laws and regulations. The fundraising permit service contributes to organizing the fundraising process in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and preserving donors' money.
Beneficiaries
- Non-Governmental Organizations.
- Commercial companies.
- Any other legal entities, according to the UAE applicable law and regulation
Channel to apply for the service
To apply for the service, please send the required documents to the following address: Social.Contribution@addcd.gov.ae
Timeframe to receive the service
Application review may take up to 20 business days.
Service Procedures
- Filling out the application form.
- The applicant must be a legal person according to the UAE’s laws and legislation.
- Approval of the entities through which the donations will be collected (Emirates Red Crescent Authority / Ma’an Authority
Required documents to apply for the service
- Filling out the donation collection permit application form.
- A copy of the passport / Emirates ID / valid residency (for non-nationals) of the representative of the entity.
- A letter proving the approval of the relevant authorities (Emirates Red Crescent / Ma’an Authority)
- The law of establishing, or license of the applicant.
- A summary of advertising campaign for fundraising “If there”
- Any other documents required by DCD.
Fees
No fees
Frequently asked questions
What are donations?
Funds collected in cash or in-kind, movable, or immovable, including the national currency, foreign currencies, bonds, deeds, and stocks, and in any form, for spending on charitable causes or providing charitable or humanitarian services and assistance.
What are the main objectives of issuing fundraising regulation law?
- To establish a giving culture and charitable work.
- To maintain donor funds securely and protect them from exploitation.
- To ensure that donations reach the rightful beneficiaries.
What are DCD responsibilities with regards to fundraising?
- Organizing and permitting fundraising activities in Abu Dhabi in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Developing a comprehensive framework for the fundraising process in Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with its strategic partners.
- Monitoring and supervising fundraising activities in Abu Dhabi.
Is a natural person permitted to collect donations from the public?
The law prohibits natural person from collecting donations from the public, due to the difficulty of monitoring and supervising them, whether in terms of monitoring the sources of donations or the beneficiaries from them; and to avoid exposure to fraud or exploitation.
What is the difference between licensed entities and permitted entities with regards to fundraising?
Licensed entities: Charitable associations, federal and local bodies and institutions that are granted by laws, decrees, and decisions to collect, receive, and provide donations.
Permitted entities: Legal entities who are authorized by the appropriate authority in accordance with the provisions of Federal Law No. 13 of 2021 regarding the regulation of fundraising.
Why is fundraising restricted only by charitable organizations and licensed entities?
Collecting, receiving, and providing fundraising is an essential work for licensed charities due to their vast experience and capabilities in carrying out such tasks.
What are the fundraising channels stipulated by law?
- Fundraising bank accounts
- ATMs of licensed banks in the country
- Digital platforms
- Monthly deductions from bank accounts
- Social media
- Various marketing and promotional offers along with the accompanying request for fundraising
- Direct deposits into bank accounts
- Media channels
- Charitable events, markets, exhibitions, auctions, and concerts
- Cash boxes, cash coupons or cash donations with receipts
- Short text messages
- Phone calls
- international money transfers
- Advertisements on websites
Is it permitted to convert in-kind donations into cash? And why?
The law permits the conversion of in-kind donations into cash whenever necessary, according to a set of controls and procedures. This is done to preserve these donations from damage or loss of value, and to benefit from their monetary value and spend them on charitable and humanitarian needs.
What are the controls and procedures in place for receiving donations from outside the country?
Regulating the process of collecting or receiving donations from abroad is one of the pillars on which the fundraising regulation law was based on to preserve the reputation and position of the country globally, and to prevent the misuse of these donations or the support to any illegal activities or projects. Accordingly, the competent authority must be fully aware of the source of those donations and the purpose of them. The law refers to the executive regulations for the establishment of regulatory controls and procedures in this aspect.
What are the controls and requirements in place for delivering donations outside the country and what is the purpose of it?
The law refers to its executive regulations, the establishment of rules and procedures regarding delivering donations outside the country. Mainly, these regulations must include means of proof, especially towards providing donations to the beneficiaries or spending them for the purposes specified for them. Additionally, the UAE legislator aims to set these regulations to protect the donors' funds and ensure that they reach the beneficiaries and not be used to support or finance any unauthorized organizations.
Are there specific conditions for international financial transfers from donations bank accounts?
The law includes regulatory conditions and procedures for international bank transfers from donations bank accounts, and the executive regulations will include details of those conditions and procedures in coordination with the concerned authorities in the country.
What is the list of entities that are licensed and approved by DCD to collect, receive, and provide donations in Abu Dhabi?
- At the level of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, there are 9 licensed and approved entities by DCD to collect, receive and provide donations, as follows:
- Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an
- UAE Red Crescent Authority
- Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Works
- Zayed Bin Sultan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation
- Zakat Fund
- Faraj Fund
- Emirates Nature - WWF
- Make A Wish Foundation
- Operation Smile
What is the penalty for violating the provisions of the Fundraising Law?
Shall be punished with imprisonment and a fine of not less than 200,000 dirhams and not more than 500,000 dirhams, or one of these two penalties would be imposed on whoever receives donations, grants, gifts, or subsidies from any person or entity from outside the country, in accordance with the controls and procedures of the laws and legislation in force in the country.
Are there any sanctions or penalties if donations were used for purposes other than those for which they were collected for?
The point number 2 from article 36 of the law stipulates that anyone who violates any of the provisions of the law or uses the donation funds for purposes other than those for which they were collected for will be punished with imprisonment and a fine of not less than 150,000 dirhams and not more than 300,000 dirhams or one of these two penalties.
What are the legal foundations that grant the Department of Community Development the organization of fundraising activities in the emirate of Abu Dhabi?
- Federal Law No. 3 for the year 2021 concerning the organization of fundraising.
- Cabinet Resolution No. 96 for the year 2022 concerning the executive regulations of the same law.
- Executive Council Resolution No. 112 for the year 2020 concerning additional specialization for the department.