Dubai: Non-profit social clubs in Dubai whose application for a licence to the Community Development Authority (CDA) was rejected may re-apply only if they meet the criteria set by law, a CDA official has said.
CDA regulates non-profit social clubs and organisations that hold social, cultural, or entertainment activities within Dubai to ensure they provide quality services to the public based on Executive Council Resolution No 4 of 2011.
CDA last year strictly implemented the resolution and met social clubs in Dubai, mainly Filipino groups, to encourage them to legalise their operation. However, Filipino groups that spoke to Gulf News said their applications had been rejected “without a clear explanation”.
Dr Omar Al Muthanna, CEO of CDA’s Social Regulator and Licensing Sector, denied the claim and said rejected organisations that have questions about their application process may approach his office any time for clarification. He reiterated that the application process is based on clear-cut guidelines to ensure each licensed group is sustainable, competent, and does not offer redundant services to the community.
“The licensing is an evaluation process where we look at the competency of the group. If the group does not prove competent, then we will not proceed with their licensure,” Dr Al Muthanna told Gulf News. “Our licence is a warranty to the community of Dubai that a high level of quality services is being provided.”
Currently, CDA has granted licences to 40 social clubs in Dubai. Once licensed, social clubs are considered legal bodies recognised by the Dubai government. They can then open a bank account, employ people, hold activities, or seek support externally.
Dr Al Muthanna said rejected groups have 30 days to appeal the decision by CDA. Beyond that, any group may approach CDA to re-apply only if they implement changes based on the criteria of sustainability, competency, and originality of services to avoid dilution of resources.
“If they come with the same idea, the same group, rejection is final. They must come to us with a different approach, components and with a more efficient [organisation], then we’ll look into the application based on the [waiting] list,” Dr Al Muthanna said.
Rejected groups earlier expressed concern about their application because they said it would affect delivery of services to their respective community. Among them was United Cebuanos, a non-profit region-based group from Cebu, a province south of Manila.
Wendell Castro, head of the group, told Gulf News: “We want to follow the rules. But it’s [rejection] so disappointing because we weren’t doing it for ourselves. We feel we have been deprived of a right, of a human need to gather and organise.”
Castro and his group headed the emergency response team, Task Force-UAE, that mobilised aid for earthquake victims in southern Philippines in October last year, typhoon Haiyan victims in November, and those affected by flooding in Manila in August 2012.
Dr Al Muthanna clarified that regulation ensures that licensed organisations’ activities fill social gaps and aren’t those that are already in abundance.
“Our role as a government is to make sure that there is added value for the community with these organisations and that stems from our concerns or our carefulness to not dilute the resources that are out there.”
