Mohammed bin Rashid issues a law regarding antiquities and archaeological sites in Dubai

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, may God protect him, in his capacity as Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, issued Law No. (11) of 2026 regarding antiquities and archaeological sites in the Emirate of Dubai, the provisions of which apply to antiquities and archaeological sites discovered and which are discovered after implementing its provisions, in all land, sea and mountainous areas of the Emirate of Dubai, whether they are on the surface of the earth or underground or In its waters, including special development zones and free zones, including the Dubai International Financial Centre.

The law aims to preserve the antiquities discovered in the Emirate of Dubai and register them in the register established pursuant to it, which contains a statement about the antiquities and archaeological sites in the emirate, and any maps, documents, documents, etc. that may be attached to them, as determined by the Culture and Arts Authority in this regard, and classifying them, for the purpose of reviving and preserving them as among the most important national treasures and resources of the Emirate of Dubai.

The law also aims to introduce antiquities and archaeological sites in Dubai, raise the level of awareness of their importance, and their historical, cultural and architectural value, enhance awareness and support for the importance of special antiquities and archaeological sites, and establish the necessary controls to ensure their protection and optimal use, in addition to providing an enabling institutional environment for managing and organizing archaeological activities in the emirate.

The law stipulated that the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority would be the competent authority in the emirate charged with supervising antiquities and archaeological sites, and specified its tasks and powers in order to achieve its goals.

Ownership of antiquities and archaeological sites

According to the law, antiquities and archaeological sites located in the Emirate of Dubai are considered their property, with the exception of private movable or immovable antiquities owned by people whose ownership of them is proven by possession or registration in the registry, as well as private archaeological sites owned by people whose ownership of them is proven by an official document and registered in the registry by their owners.

The law also stipulates that the owner of the land does not acquire the right to own or dispose of the antiquities present or installed on its surface or interior, nor does ownership of the land give him the right to conduct surveying, excavation, restoration, or maintenance of the antiquities found therein in any way. It is also not permissible to give away antiquities owned by the Emirate except in accordance with a decision issued by the Chairman of the Culture and Arts Authority in this regard, while antiquities owned by the Emirate may be temporarily removed for the purposes of display, restoration, study, or for any other purposes, in accordance with a decision issued by the Chairman of the Authority.

According to the law, antiquities owned by the Emirate may be loaned to official or scientific bodies or national museums and institutes inside or outside the country, in accordance with a decision issued by the Director General of the Culture and Arts Authority. The executive regulations of this law specify the conditions, controls and guarantees necessary for gifting antiquities owned by the Emirate or temporarily taking them out or lending them, in addition to the controls related to taking out or loaning private antiquities abroad. The Emirate shall transfer to the Emirate all intellectual property rights to images, models, periodic and scientific reports, and exact copies of antiquities owned by it, including images, models, and reports prepared by entities authorized by the Authority to practice archaeological activities.

Reporting discovered effects

The law obligates anyone who discovers any antiquity that meets the criteria for antiquity status established in accordance with its provisions, or finds it by chance, not to touch it and to stop any work, including construction work, that would affect it, or any other antiquities that may be present in the area surrounding the archaeological site, which is considered a natural, environmental, aesthetic, visual, or legal extension of it, and an integral part of it. The Authority is responsible for identifying it and showing it on planning maps in coordination with the competent authorities in the Emirate of Dubai. Whoever discovers or finds the antiquity must notify the Authority or Dubai Police of it within 48 hours from the date the antiquity is discovered or found.

The law obligates anyone who accidentally finds in the waters of the Emirate of Dubai a piece that meets the criteria for antiquity status determined in accordance with its provisions, to immediately inform the Culture and Arts Authority and hand over the piece to it within seven days from the date it is found.

Taking into account the rights of third parties in good faith, an antiquity discovered by chance is considered the property of the Emirate of Dubai if five years have passed since its discovery without the knowledge of its owner. The Authority shall take the necessary measures in coordination with the relevant authorities to investigate the owner of the antiquity, preserve it, and register it in the register in accordance with the provisions of this law.

History

The law stipulates the establishment of a special register with the Culture and Arts Authority in which all antiquities and archaeological sites are registered, including private antiquities and private archaeological sites, that meet the criteria for the status of an antiquity and an archaeological site. The antiquities and archaeological sites registered with the Authority before the provisions of this law come into effect are considered to legally meet the criteria for the status of an antiquity and archaeological site established pursuant to it, as if they were registered in accordance with its provisions. The Authority is responsible for updating the data of these antiquities and archaeological sites in accordance with the requirements. Which shall be determined by a decision issued by the Director General of the Culture and Arts Authority, and the law obligates everyone who owns any private antiquity or archaeological site that meets the criteria for the status of the antiquity established in accordance with its provisions, to submit to the Authority a request to inspect it and register it in the register.

The law specifies the criteria for acquiring the status of an antiquity, and also specifies the obligations of the person or his legal representative who owns or actually controls a private antiquity or a private archaeological site, and the mechanisms for maintaining and restoring private antiquities and private archaeological sites, as well as the mechanisms for introducing foreign antiquities into the Emirate of Dubai. In addition to the violations and administrative penalties resulting from violating its provisions.

Prohibited acts

According to the law, it is prohibited for any person to damage, demolish, alter, change its features, move, distort with writing or engraving, or cause damage to it in any way. It is also prohibited by law to throw any waste, dust, sand, or dead animals into any archaeological site or the surrounding area, or to place any banners or paste advertisements on any antiquity or in any archaeological site or the surrounding area, except to the extent required for guidance and publicity purposes.

The law prohibits entry to any archaeological site that has been closed by the Culture and Arts Authority without obtaining its prior approval. The law also prohibits the use of any archaeological site or its surrounding area as a dumping ground, a repository for rubble or waste, storage, a stone quarry, a cemetery, or an animal shelter, or for any other use that would harm or harm the archaeological site or its surrounding area. The law prohibits the establishment of any heavy or dangerous industries, or military or vital facilities in any archaeological site or the area surrounding it, or committing any other act that would expose the archaeological site or the area surrounding it to danger.

The law included a set of prohibited acts, including taking any dirt, stones, rubble, or other materials from any archaeological site or the surrounding area, conducting any construction work on any archaeological site or the surrounding area, leveling it, establishing any means of irrigation in it, constructing any road or canal in it, digging or planting in it, cutting down its trees, or committing any other act that would change the features of the archaeological site or damage it. It is also prohibited to exploit the archaeological site or the area surrounding it for any industrial, commercial, agricultural, scientific or investment activities, except after obtaining prior approval from the Culture and Arts Authority, and after coordination with the competent government authorities.

The law prohibits the holding of any exhibitions, auctions, or events related to antiquities in the Emirate of Dubai except after obtaining prior approval from the Authority. It also prohibits the entry of any movable antiquity into the Emirate of Dubai for the purpose of acquiring, selling, or exporting it or for any other purpose, whether in person or with another person, by transit, or by any other means, unless the legality of possession of that movable antiquity is proven by official documents approved by the authorities. competent authorities and in accordance with applicable legislation.

The law also prohibits the establishment, management, or supervision of any website, or the use of the information network or any means of information technology for the purpose of trafficking in antiquities, without obtaining the necessary approvals from the Culture and Arts Authority and the competent authorities. The law also prohibits removing private antiquities from the emirate permanently or temporarily for the purposes of display, restoration, examination and analysis, unless obtaining prior approval from the Authority.

Practicing archaeological activities

According to the law, it is prohibited for any person to practice archaeological activities in the Emirate of Dubai except after obtaining a permit from the Culture and Arts Authority. Pursuant to a decision issued by the Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, the practice of archaeological activities is regulated, the conditions and procedures for issuing a permit to practice them are determined, and the rights of the entities authorized to practice these activities are stated.

Implementation of major projects

The law stipulates that the person who wishes to implement any of the major projects in the emirate must obtain a no-objection certificate from the Culture and Arts Authority, if these projects will be implemented in archaeological sites or any area containing antiquities, provided that the authority issues a no-objection certificate after ensuring that the area that is the site of the implementation of major projects is free of any antiquities or archaeological sites. The authority, in coordination with the competent authorities in the emirate, is responsible for determining the major projects that will be implemented. It requires obtaining a no-objection certificate in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Reconciliation of the situation

All persons subject to the provisions of this law must adjust their situations in accordance with its provisions within a period not exceeding one year from the date of its implementation. The Director General of the Culture and Arts Authority may extend this period for a similar period in cases that require this.
Any text in any other legislation shall be repealed to the extent that it conflicts with the provisions of this law. It shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall be effective from the date of its publication.