Dubai: Whatever your organisation is — be it a dance club or a running organisation — as long as you are a social club that serves communities and you operate in Dubai, you need to be registered and obtain a licence from the Community Development Authority (CDA).

CDA regulates and provides licences to non-profit social clubs and organisations that hold social, cultural, or entertainment activities within the emirate as per Executive Council Resolution No 4 executed in 2011. Regulation is being done in order to ensure the quality of services these social clubs offer the general public.

Dr Omar Al Muthanna, CEO of CDA’s Social Regulator and Licensing Sector, said there are no exemptions in getting licences, as a clarification to an earlier report. Al Muthanna said his office is more than willing to accommodate, assist, and guide social clubs in the registration and licensing process.

“When a group of people come together to make an organisation, sometimes they are at a loss over how to go about organising themselves. And this is where we take pride in supporting these organisations. We will let them know how to draft a constitution, to let them know how they can make sure that their services are sustainable for many years so that it doesn’t get diluted or dissolved,” Al Muthanna told Gulf News.

Al Muthanna said regulating social clubs also helps ensure that these clubs are meeting social needs in an efficient manner.

“We want to make sure that their activities are in fact filling the social gaps, and not those that are already in abundance, or supporting something that is already being saturated in terms of support,” he said.

Once licensed, social clubs are considered legal bodies that are recognised by the Dubai government. They can then open a bank account, employ people, hold activities, or seek support externally.

Al Muthanna said CDA conducts continuous inspections in various community events to check for unlicensed organisations. Violators may face a fine of between Dh2,000 and Dh10,000.

“We are cognisant of the fact that we are dealing with the social sector. And we are always keen to be tolerant. However, if, after a number of warnings and guidance, we see that this organisation is refusing to abide, then we will resort to penalising this organisation and maybe closing it down also.”

Documentary requirements for obtaining a licence can be found at CDA’s website at www.cda.gov.ae. Social clubs need to pay Dh2,000 for the licence fee which is valid for two years.”