Department of Municipal Affairs (Abu Dhabi)

Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs
دائرة الشؤون البلدية
Agency overview
Headquarters	Abu Dhabi 24°28′0″N 54°22′0″E / 24.466667°N 54.366667°E / 24.466667; 54.366667
Agency executive	Majid Ali Al Mansouri, H.E.

Department of Municipal Affairs (Arabic: دائرة الشؤون البلدية‎ Daerat Alsho'on Albaladeya, was established in May 2007, and replaced the Department of Municipalities and Agriculture to act as the main focal point of all municipal planning and to oversee public works projects in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The DMA aims to produce efficiencies and higher customer satisfaction in accordance with the national Policy Agenda which will represent a new era in municipal services to the general public.

As a regulatory body, the DMA supervises the three regional municipal councils and municipal administrations; Abu Dhabi Municipality, Al Ain Municipality and Western Region Municipality.

Vision, Mission and Values

Vision

An advanced municipal system that enables sustainable development and enhances quality of living for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

Mission

To achieve the Abu Dhabi Government’s objective of providing distinctive municipal services that enhance the quality of living of all residents through coordination, oversight and monitoring of the Abu Dhabi municipalities and municipal councils

Values

Leadership:

Instill leadership behavior to assure successful sustainable thinking.

Accountability:

Ensure transparency and accountability in all decisions.

Professionalism:

Uphold laws, policies and regulations while respecting all stakeholders’ rights.

Quality:

Promote quality standards, policies and regulations to provide services that ensure customer satisfaction.

Knowledge Sharing:

Encourage municipalities to learn and share best practices on a global regional and local scale.

Collaboration:

Build effective relationships with stakeholders and ensure public buy-in based on cooperation.

Innovation:

Appreciate and nurture creativity, encourage new ideas and reward innovation.

Human Resource Development:

Promote and institutionalize investment in human resource training in order to achieve an energetic, innovative work culture.

Responsibilities

The Department of Municipal Affairs shall aim to achieve the general policies of Abu Dhabi Government by way of supervision and control over the municipal councils in the Abu Dhabi Emirate concerned in providing such services. The Department of Municipal Affairs is responsible for the following:

1. To propose the draft laws, regulations related to the municipalities, municipal councils in the emirate of Abu Dhabi including the regulations related to the duties and dynamism of the business of municipalities and municipal councils. The powers of the Department shall include as follows:

To propose establishing new municipalities.

To propose the determination and amendment of the geographical sphere of municipalities and their boundaries to be approved by the Executive Council.

To propose the amendments over the laws regulating the construction in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the regulation and decisions as executed.

To propose the draft laws related to the lands registration and to lay the standards of the relative policies and procedures.

To propose the amendment of the charges of services rendered by the municipalities in the emirate.

To propose the distribution of the fees income between the Department and municipalities.

1. To make sure that the applicable policies in the municipalities and municipal councils are in compliance with the general policies of Abu Dhabi Government.

1. To receive the annual reports about the municipalities' achievements and municipal councils and municipalities and to file the same to the Executive Council supported with the assessment of the chairman and members of the council and working directors in case the Municipal Councils do not exist.

1. To submit all matters and requests related to the Municipalities to the Executive Council.

1. To lay a general frame to interact between the municipalities and Municipal Councils and the other governmental bodies in Abu Dhabi emirate in coordination with the municipalities constituted in the emirate.

1. To coordinate with the authorities involved in preparing the architectural development in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

1. To co-ordinate between the municipalities and councils and other departments in the emirate of Abu Dhabi as well as to remove any obstacles for work.

1. To coordinate among the municipalities in the emirate of Abu Dhabi in respect of the projects involved in the powers and mandates of some or all of these municipalities for the purposes of determining the best means for supervision over such projects.

1. To support the municipalities and Municipal Councils in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and coordinate among each other in respect of developing the financial, administrative and human cadres and skills of the Municipal Council members and municipalities employees.

1. To propose, provide and develop the culturing and training programs related to the municipal work of the municipality’s employees in the emirate of Abu Dhabi in cooperation with the concerned municipalities and the competent bodies in the emirate.

1. To represent the emirate in the conferences, forums concerned in the municipal affairs.

1. To review the proposals of the strategic plans and as well as the budgets plan provided by the municipalities and Municipal Councils in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and to file the same to the Executive Council to be approved.

1. Any other duties assigned by the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi emirate.

DMA Charter

The Department of Municipal Affairs and the Municipalities have the common objective of enhancing the well being of the residents of Abu Dhabi

All parties recognize the need for a coordinated approach to municipal service delivery and to consult with and learn from each other in order to strengthen the relationship and resolve issues of concern.

Relations between all parties should be conducted in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation, recognizing each others roles and responsibilities.

Department of Municipal Affairs policies and regulations that affect the jurisdiction of each municipality should have regard to the following principles:

Maximized autonomy and flexibility for municipalities balanced by openness, transparency and accountability.

Efficiency and effectiveness in the exercise by each municipality of its jurisdiction.

A focus on outcomes in setting policy, strategy or program objectives which address community needs and expectations.

Achieving the highest level of accountability and good governance.

The Parties undertake to seek partnership opportunities to deliver in alignment of the vision for Abu Dhabi set forth by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyen, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Responsibilities and Interests of all Parties

Recognize the implications of shared responsibilities and the consequent need to operate cooperatively and, where necessary, to negotiate common agreements.

Commit to regular engagement on the formulation and implementation of policies, legislation, strategies and programs which affect the municipal system, and to negotiate on issues of concern.

Responsibilities and Interests of the Department of Municipal Affairs:

In accordance with the delegations by law of the Executive Council, the Department of Municipal Affairs will provide for a system of Municipal Government under which Municipalities will operate.

Provide a governance framework which is flexible and responsive to community needs and expectations and which has regard to the circumstances of each municipality.

Undertake regular, timely, cooperative, proper and meaningful engagement on all policy, legislation, strategy and program initiatives affecting municipalities.

Engage with municipalities regarding financial and other resourcing implications, that flow from policy or legislative changes that could result in additional functions and responsibilities for municipalities.

Responsibilities and Interests of the Municipalities:

Each municipality will seek to achieve the highest levels of good governance of local communities across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Recognize that Government’s agenda to empower each municipality and provide greater autonomy, carries with it an equal requirement to be transparent in, and accountable, for its actions.

Each municipality commits to recognize the Department of Municipal Affairs authority as vested in it by the Government to represent the Municipalities’ interests in matters of consequence.

Each municipality agrees to work in a cooperative manner with respect to issues of mutual interest to both the Department of Municipal Affairs and the Municipality.

Undertake timely, cooperative, proper and meaningful engagement with the Department of Municipal Affairs, on all policy initiatives and strategies where the Department of Municipal Affairs has an interest.

Implementation

The Parties agree to:

Promote awareness of this Charter across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Establish and maintain systems and processes to facilitate monitoring and reporting on the implementation of this Charter.

Promote awareness of the principles of this Charter through training and skills development.

Our Charter

A Charter establishing the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Municipal Affairs and the Municipalities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We the undersigned agree to be held accountable for our performance and to work constructively to deliver an efficient, effective and coordinated municipal system for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its people

Current Chairman

H.E. Majed Ali Al Mansouri

Chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs

Emirate of Abu Dhabi

H.E Majid Al Mansouri was Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) before becoming Chairman of the DMA. He joined EAD 10 years ago as Assistant Secretary General for Finance & Administration after serving 12 years with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Group (ADNOC).

H.E Al Mansouri is also Managing Director of Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, Managing Director of the Center for Waste Management – Abu Dhabi, Executive Director of Emirates Falconers’ Club and chairman of several technical committees. He also serves on the board of Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company.

H.E. Majid Al Mansouri was born in 1967, and holds a BSc in Urban Planning from Alabama A & M University, Huntsville, USA. In 2009, he was awarded the Gulf Cooperation Council’s award for Best Environmental Personality in the UAE.

See also

• Qasr al-Hosn, the palace-fort, seat of government and palace of the rulers of Abu Dhabi ca. 1760/1790 to 1966.
• Mina' Zayid, the port of Abu Dhabi.
• Sheikh Zayed Mosque
• Emirates Palace Hotel, the most expensive hotel ($3 Billion) ever built
• Al Ain
• Marawah
• Dubai
• List of tallest buildings in Abu Dhabi
• Transportation in the United Arab Emirates

References

External links

• Department of Municipal Affairs Portal