Dubai: In his capacity as the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has issued Executive Council Resolution No. (13) of 2026. This resolution regulates the use of cameras in documenting violations and executing judicial judgments, decisions, and orders, under the supervision of the competent judge and in accordance with applicable legislation.
According to Emirates News Agency, the resolution aims to enhance professional conduct among enforcement officers in Dubai, improve transparency and integrity, protect individual rights, ensure legal compliance, and utilize technology to verify procedures. It outlines specific rules for using cameras to record enforcement officers and manage violations and execution procedures, specifying what can be recorded and in which locations. Recordings are required to be stored securely using encrypted systems, protected from unauthorized access or tampering, and managed in alignment with Dubai laws and the requirements set by the Dubai Electronic Security Center for retention and handling.
The resolution mandates compliance with the Dubai Electronic Security Centre's information security and business continuity policies, along with its procedures for handling and transferring recordings. Government entities must maintain a database of authorized users and their access levels, ensuring all staff and approved personnel adhere to privacy protection standards.
Moreover, the resolution delineates the responsibilities of enforcement officers, including using cameras solely for official purposes and following their authority's instructions. It forbids recording in highly private locations such as homes, places of worship, and changing rooms, and requires officers to inform people when recording is taking place. Officers are obliged to keep recordings confidential and share them only with their representing government entity or authorized individuals. They are prohibited from copying, storing, or transferring recordings on personal devices or unauthorized systems, or from using them for personal or unlawful purposes.
The resolution mandates government entities to provide training for officers before granting them judicial enforcement powers. This training must encompass the application of the resolution, documentation of violations and enforcement actions, secure handling and transfer of recordings, and the legal and ethical responsibilities associated with the use of body cameras, with a particular focus on privacy protection.
Executive Council Resolution No. 13 of 2026 also stipulates the obligations of private companies contracted by government entities or assigned any of their statutory functions. Recordings must be stored electronically by the government entity, kept confidential under Dubai Electronic Security Centre rules, and can only be used, shared, or accessed with written approval for specified purposes under Dubai laws.
The head of the relevant government entity may issue decisions necessary to implement the resolution within their area of authority, except for decisions issued by the Chairman of the Supreme Committee of Legislation in Dubai. Any conflicting provisions with other resolutions are repealed. The resolution is effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.