Non-Governmental Organizations

• Definition of Civil Society

  • A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an organization formed independently from government, typically nonprofit, and active in humanitarianism, social sciences, or providing services to members and others.
  • NGOs can include clubs, associations, and organizations working in various areas, such as social, religious, cultural, scientific, educational, occupational, women, innovational, technical, or humanitarian.

  UAE Law to Form Associations (NGO)

  • Article 2 of the UAE law defines a society as a group of people or organizations formed for a limited or unlimited time to create activities in areas such as social, religious, cultural, scientific, educational, occupational, women, innovational, technical, or humanitarian.
  • The law requires a minimum of 20 founding members, who must be UAE nationals, and at least 18 years old.
  • The managing board must have a minimum of 5 active members, who must be UAE nationals, and at least 21 years old.

  Categories of Public Utility Associations

  • The table shows the categories of public utility associations in the UAE from 2014 to 2018, including:
    • Women: 8 associations
    • Occupational: 34 associations
    • Folkloric Arts: 29 associations
    • Cultural and Public Services: 63 associations
    • Charity and Relief: 23 associations
    • Theaters: 13 associations
    • Community Leagues: 15 associations

  Occupational Societies

  • Examples of occupational societies in the UAE include:
    • Society of Engineers
    • Medical Society
    • Sociological Association
    • Lawyers Association
    • Accountants and Auditors Association
    • Teachers Association

  Humanitarian Organizations

  • Examples of humanitarian organizations in the UAE include:
    • Red Crescent
    • Al Maktoum Foundation
    • Human Appeal International
    • Dubai Charity
    • Sharjah Charity
    • Alihsan Charity

  Folklore Associations

  • Examples of folklore associations in the UAE include:
    • Abu Dhabi Folklore Association
    • Dubai Folklore Association
    • Sharjah Folklore Association
    • Ajman Folklore Association
    • Umm Al Quwain Folklore Association
    • Ras Al Khaimah Folklore Association
    • Fujairah Folklore Association

  Awards

  • Examples of awards in the UAE include:
    • Zayed-Emirates Appreciation Award
    • Humaid Bin Rashid Award
    • Al Owais Award
    • Cultural and Scientific Association Award
    • Hamdan Bin Rashid Educational Award
    • Hamdan Bin Rashid Medical Award

  Women Associations

  • Examples of women associations in the UAE include:
    • General Women Union
    • Umm Almoumineen – Ajman

  Clubs

  • Examples of clubs in the UAE include:
    • Abu Dhabi Sports Club
    • Dubai Sports Club
    • UAE Football Clubs

  Cultural Associations

  • Examples of cultural associations in the UAE include:
    • Cultural Foundation – Abu Dhabi
    • Cultural and Scientific Association
    • Sharjah International Book Fair
    • Abu Dhabi Book Fair
    • National Cultural Encyclopedia

  Theatre

  • Theatrical Association – Sharjah (established in 1994) aims to develop talents, participate in national and regional events, knowledge transfer, and provide support to those in the field.

Learn about non-governmental organizations, their definition, and characteristics. Understand their role in humanitarianism and social sciences.