A leap forward towards refining legislative drafting to provide viable and balanced government legislation

UAE, July 19 2020 - The General Secretariat of the Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai (SLC) has completed preparations for an online awareness workshop titled, ‘The Importance of Rationale behind Legislation in the Drafting Process,’ which is set to be conducted on July 27, 2020. The virtual workshop complements the SLC’s continuing efforts to promote legislative awareness by providing legislators, legal advisors, lawyers, and other legal officers working in Dubai government entities with the essential skills to refine the drafting process of legislation, and develop viable and balanced government legislation. A total of 35 local government entities have confirmed their participation in the online event, which will be held via Microsoft Teams. The workshop will discuss the basic pillars in the legislative drafting process such as reasons behind issuing legislation and explanatory and interpretative memoranda. These elements are key to ensuring the effectiveness of legislation with a view to supporting the comprehensive and sustainable development in the Emirate of Dubai.

H.E. Ahmad Saeed bin Meshar Al Muhairi, SLC Secretary General, explained that the online workshop is part of the General Secretariat's endeavours to achieve the strategic objectives set by the SLC, particularly, to consolidate the legal and legislative knowledge of legal professionals working across local government entities. Al Muhairi emphasized that the workshop adds value to the legislative knowledge and awareness initiatives undertaken by the SLC, and which are instrumental in advancing the legislative process in Dubai.

“The importance of this workshop stems from the fact that legislative drafting plays a pivotal role in effectively communicating the purpose behind the legislation. We look forward to providing the representatives of the 35 participating entities with the substantive criteria, fundamental methods, and key guidelines needed to create legislation that embraces the present and looks ahead to the future. We are committed to enhancing the legislative skills and capabilities of government professionals and empower them to advance the legislative process, in line with the Dubai strategic vision to build a pioneering and proactive government capable of meeting the current and future needs of the UAE,' concluded Bin Meshar.

The agenda of the online workshop features discussions on ratio legis (a statement of grounds for issuing legislation), its definition; and how to prepare it. Participants will be familiarised with how to formulate ratio legis, what to include in it, and the various terms used therein, in addition to the characteristics of effective legislative drafting.