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.