Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
(20) Of 2005
Regarding Necessary Precautions & Requirements in Work Areas & Places to
Protect Workers & Operators therein & Visitors against Risks of Work
The Minister of Civil Service & Housing Affairs,
After having perused thoroughly the constitution;
The Labor law issued by law No. (14) Of 2004, and in particular the Article (102);
The Emiri Decision no. (29) Of 1996 pertaining to the Cabinet acts submitted to Emir for
ratification and promulgation;
After coordinating with the competent authorities;
And the resolution draft hereof adopted by the Cabinet, in its ordinary meeting (24) of 2005,
held on 6 July 2005;
Has decided:
Section 1 – General Provisions
Article (1)
The employer is obliged to take all necessary precautions to ensure that prevailing
circumstances, in work areas and places, accomplish full protection for the workers and
operators therein and visitors against risks of work; while developing an effective control
system to secure ongoing safety in the work environment and operational safety; and those
workers follow the confirmed prevention instructions.
Article (2)
The employer is obliged to notify the Labor Department, in the Ministry of Civil Service &
Housing Affairs, when installing and operating instruments and upon introducing amendments
to the basic methods of manufacturing and operation and that is, to execute technical viewing
to ensure implementing the requirements of occupational safety required by the Labor Law
referred to.
Article (3)
The employer is obliged to fulfill the suitability between the type of work and its circumstances,
and the persons in charge of its health and technical aspects.
Article (4)
The employer or his representative, is obliged to inform the workers, prior to commencing
work, of the risks of work that they would exercise and to enlighten them with all necessary
requirements to avoid work accidents and injuries that may affect their health and safety,
including the issue of detailed instructions in Arabic and other languages which the workers
understand along with a written commitment proving that they have read the said instructions.
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Article (5)
The employer is obliged to supply the workers with protective clothing, tools and personal
means such as gloves, caps, boots, suits, masks and other protective instruments; provided they
are suitable for the nature of operations and type of risks the workers are subject to and that
the workers are trained to use them, taking into consideration the provision of safety methods
to maintain, clean and sterilize them.
The employer has no right to make the workers pay, or deduct from their salaries, any amounts
in return for the provision of these instruments.
Article (6)
The employee is forbidden to commit any action or default, with which he/she intends to
prevent the implementation of safety instructions and occupational health, abuse or causing
damage to the means set to protect the safety and health of other fellow workers; he/she is
obliged to use the means of confirmed prevention; vows to take the necessary care of his/her
possession; should implement the instructions confirmed to protect his/her health and prevent
him/herself from the risks of work; and is obliged to inform the employer, or the duty
supervisor, upon noticing any deficiency or fault in the operation of the said means that may
cause danger to the safety and health of workers.
Article (7)
The employer is obliged to use warning signs and instructions and posters at worksites that are
visible and can be clearly seen, as a means of warning of work risks.
Article (8)
The employer or his representative should set‐up and keep, at worksites, the following
registers:
1. A register for work accidents and injuries
2. A register for sick workers with occupational diseases
3. A register for sick workers with normal and chronic diseases
4. Registers of primary and periodic medical examinations for workers subject to occupational
diseases
The data of such registers should be fulfilled at firsthand, while the employer is obliged to
present the said registers to inspectors whenever they are requested to.
The said registers should be set up in accordance with the forms developed by the Minister of
Civil Service and Housing Affairs, in this regard.
Section 2 – General Precautions & Requirements
Article (9)
The employer is obliged to take the following basic precautions to provide safety and
occupational health:
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1. Buildings of the facility, permanent or temporary, to be raised with a solid construction to
ensure they do not fall or collapse, nor they are affected by the vibrations resulting from the
works carried out within or adjacent to them.
2. Ceilings to be manufactured from materials fitted with a technical and secured method and
with enough force to withstand the loads which they will be exposed to; also the loads which
may be hanged upon them; and to isolate the internal atmosphere from the outside
temperature.
Article (10)
Courtyards and open areas, containing equipment and machines, must have umbrellas or
ceilings to protect workers against weather factors (sunlight and rainfall) unless the type of
work and the nature of place require otherwise.
Article (11)
Pathways should have enough space for passing people and equipment; special Pathways
should be marked with clear lines for passing people, and other Pathways for passing transport
equipment and cranes; taking into consideration the absence of any barriers that may preclude
the use of emergency exists.
Article (12)
Grounds and worksites must be sound and empty of pits, excessive, sharp tools, oils, greases
and lubricant substances; or any obstacles that may pose a risk to workers.
It is also an obligation to set‐up in‐ground channels for the draining of fluids, should the nature
of industry require as such, provided that the said channels are covered with a strong cover
web, leveled with the ground, which protects workers from tripping over or falling down, and
facilitates the passing of fluids into the said channels, taking into consideration to clean them
continuously, provided that fluids of hazardous nature are gathered in special containers.
Article (13)
Industrial waste should be disposed, at first hand, by appropriate and sound methods taking
into consideration the handling of such waste to prevent the leakage of chemical substances,
acids, alkalis or any corrosive substances which may affect sewers or pollute sea water or the
environment in general.
Article (14)
Periodic maintenance of the facility’s buildings and all its sub‐branches should be carried out so
they remain always sound.
Article (15)
Should there be holes in the worksites that may expose the workers to the risk of falling; the
said holes should be surrounded by protective barriers.
Article (16)
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Upon establishing a mezzanine, the work should be carried out in accordance with the technical
rules accompanied with the issue of necessary licenses, provided it is equipped with a
protective barrier to prevent falling and with a safety means for ascension.
Article (17)
Fixed ladders should be made of materials that prevent sliding, and equipped with protective,
sound and safety precautions as determined by the competent authorities in the ministry.
Mobile ladders should be strong and bear the efforts carried out upon them; the heights of
their steps are regular and with suitable dimensions; their basements and heads are equipped
with fulcrum means to prevent sliding; and that the use of double ladders is preferable.
Also, taking into consideration the use of scaffolds which ought to be of durable and suitable
materials to bear the efforts carried out upon them; be of enough width; surrounded with
barriers that prevent the fall of workers and materials; and that workers are equipped with
safety gear to ensure the durability of their installation.
Article (18)
When using machines or equipment which emit, upon operation, vibrations or noises, the said
machines or equipment should be installed on shock‐absorbing or vibration‐absorbing
basements, and taking all measures to reduce the severity of noises and vibrations.
Article (19)
Special places should be set up for industrial processes, machines or instruments which emit
upon operation or produce dust, fumes or harmful gases, provided that such places are
separate from other worksites and equipped with suitable vacuuming and gathering devices.
Article (20)
The employer is obliged to take necessary measures to protect workers from the risks of using
steam boilers, taking into account their periodic examinations carried out by the locally
adopted authorities, and keeping a valid certificate of warranty ensuring their soundness.
The employer is also obliged to take all suitable precautions to protect workers from risks of
pressure vessels and compressed, liquefied and dissolved gasses.
Article (21)
The employer is obliged to arrange for the proper equipment and hand tools concerning work
and should specify their designated areas, as well as conducting periodic examinations to
ensure their soundness.
Section 3 – Precautions Needed regarding Protection against Machinery
Article (22)
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A machine, when applying the provisions of this resolution, means any instrument operated by
power other than manpower, whether it is new or used and whatever the economic activity
within which it is used.
Article (23)
The employer is obliged to inform the workers with the regulations relating to the protection
from machinery; guide them about their risks and to the needed precautions when operating
them; must take all means to protect his/her workers from machine risks; and must not request
from a worker to operate any machine unless it is equipped with the means of prevention.
Article (24)
The worker must not operate any machine unequipped with the necessary means of
prevention, and he/she may not stop or disrupt the preventive system for any machine he/she
operates.
Article (25)
When installing machinery, enough spaces should be left around them or around the work units
determined by a competent authority, allowing workers to pass through, perform their duty
and carry out the necessary maintenance operations without any obstacle and without being
exposed to the risk of a collision.
Article (26)
The employer must always, and on continual basis, surround the moving parts of generators,
transmissions and the hazardous parts of instruments, whether they are fixed, moveable or
mobile, with suitable prevention barriers unless the said instruments had been taken into
consideration, while being designed or installed, the surety of full prevention.
Also, the employer must not allow for any person to take off or install the prevention barriers
except when a machine is not in operation, on the condition that the said barriers are returned
in place before a machine is switched on, taking into consideration the use of barriers that stop
a machine automatically once the barriers are lifted from their place.
Article (27)
A means of immediate stoppage must exist near any given machine such as, the use of power
cuts in case of an emergency.
Article (28)
The employer is obliged to conduct periodic maintenance for all instruments, equipment and
machinery conducted by specialized technicians, provided setting up special registers for
maintenance.
It is prohibited to clean, grease or lubricate any instrument or machine, used at work, during its
operation unless it is equipped with automatic means which may prevent accidents to workers
at the facility.
Article (29)
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Necessary precautions must be taken to protect workers from the danger of sparks, flying
fragments or sharp objects and that is, through appropriate safety methods suitable for this
purpose.
Article (30)
The employer is prohibited to use machinery whose hazardous parts do not have enough
means of protection.
Section 4 – Prevention Precautions when Handling & Storing Materials & Work Tools
Article (31)
Raw, equipment, production materials or others of different work tools circulation should be
handled with a sound and safety means, and must not entail any damage to the safety and
health of workers.
Article (32)
The employer is committed to provide all necessary precautions and requirements for the
machinery and cranes and to prevent their risks by taking into consideration the following:
1. Must provide the appropriate mechanical lifting equipment to be used in lifting materials in a
sound method, while ensuring the safety and soundness of the chains, ropes and hooks,
conducting weekly inspection, and testing them at least once every year.
2. Each crane should have, in a visible place and with a fixed method that cannot be easily
removed; a notice of the maximum safe operating load the crane can lift or remove, taking into
consideration not to exceed the load of its capacity.
3. Each crane should have a register containing its manufacturing date, its maximum operating
load, its periodic dates for tests and inspections; the comments of the laboratory and inspector;
the maintenance works and repairs accomplished; and the spare parts replaced or repaired.
4. The cabin of a crane operator should be equipped with a means of communication, while
ensuring the existence of such means and its validity prior to commencing work.
5. The passages of cranes must be determined by warning methods and prohibition of parking,
passing of people within the said passages or under the overhung loads of the said cranes.
6. It is prohibited to operate cranes, traction and transport machinery by other than
technicians, competent, qualified and licensed people by the competent authorities to operate
the said machinery.
Article (33)
The means of mechanical transport and the conduction of periodic inspection should be
insured, along with following the safety methods during operation.
Article (34)
The fundamentals of sound storage should be taken into consideration when storing materials,
equipment or instruments while isolating hazardous materials in special stores; provided that
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indicative signs are displayed, where the said materials are stored, showing the seriousness of
the material, its handling methods and safe transportation.
Section 5 – Protective Precautions against Electricity Risks
Article (35)
All machinery, equipment, instruments and electrically operated tools, should be fitted with
switches to cut off power; provided the switches are isolated, safe and appropriate for the
nature of work in its different locations and in visible places, so the said switches can be easily
accessed in an emergency case.
Article (36)
Electrical distribution boards should be placed in a safe place and securely connected to all
devices or electrical circuits; the control process of electricity should be through the said boards
and should be simple and within reach of the operator responsible; they should impose no
source of danger, provided that connections , wires and electrical devices connected to the
boards are taken into consideration of being sound, safe and bear the electrical efforts
required for operating the machinery; and automatic partitioning of electrical circuits should be
installed in order to disconnect power when high voltage occurs and another, when a short
circuit arises.
Article (37)
All electrical extensions and connections must be safe and completely isolated; electrical
switches clutching to the electrical current must be of the type that does not produce sparks
when electrical circuits are switched on and off; and that lighting unites are of the protected
type, incapable of exploding or breaking.
Article (38)
Periodic examinations must be conducted upon all cables, wires, connections and electrical
appliances to preclude short circuits, avoid the risks of fire, electrocution and others; and to
have any discovered defect immediately repaired.
Article (39)
Technicians who undertake the process of installing and repairing appliances, machinery and
electrical connections must have high degree of training and skills; taking into consideration
disconnecting the electric current prior to commencing the works of installation, repairing or
maintenance; and connecting the electrical appliances to the ground.
Article (40)
Prior to commencing the works of maintenance, on connections or electrical equipment, to
have the electric current disconnected; taking safe precautions to prevent mistaken access of
current to the above during maintenance (displaying a warning sign); test each circuit prior to
commencing maintenance works to ensure disconnection of electric current; the use of
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insulating gloves and boots against electricity; and all equipment and instruments, used during
maintenance, are in non‐conducting hands.
Article (41)
The back or front side of the electrical distribution boards must not be used as a storing place.
Article (42)
Protection must be taken against static electricity and that is, by ground connections taking into
account the necessary technical and engineering requirements for all instruments, equipment
and electrically operated machines such as generators, transformers, cutting machines, cranes
and punching machines; taking into consideration the periodic examinations, of the said
connections, and conducting the necessary repairs and periodic checkups to be always sound.
All non‐conducting parts, that may be easily electrically charged, should be connected to
ground plugs such as oil pipelines, bands transmission, belts and others.
Section 6 – Precautions of Preventing Fire Hazards
Article (43)
The employer must take all necessary precautions and requirements to prevent fire risks in
accordance with what the competent authorities determine, and relevant to the type of
activities being handled in workplaces, features of raw materials and different productive
materials used by the natural and chemical materials, taking into account the following:
1. Buildings of the facility must be made of fire‐resistant materials; the degree of resistance
should be according to the nature of work at the facility; and fire‐proof doors must be installed
in key locations of the facility.
2. Providing enough number of emergencies exists; their number, capacities and dimensions
are determined by a specialist and the following should be taken into account:
A. Every section of the building must have at least two exists opposite each other which
lead to a location in which an individual finds security and safety, and the distances are
subject to the potential danger and should be protected against flame and smoke.
B. Exists are easily acknowledged, by way of displaying signs pointing at them, and
should be well lit and with emergency lighting in case of power failure.
C. All exists and passages should be obstacles‐free that impede the exit of individuals.
D. The direction of opening exist doors should be to the outside vent, in the direction of
individuals.
3. Leaving enough spaces among work units to prevent the spread of fire from one building to
another, provided that the width of passages between the instruments, appliances or piles of
materials should be no less than (60 cm) in workplaces subject to fire.
4. Commitment should be made towards the spaces that ought to be provided between sites
containing flammable materials and between other sites, determined by competent
authorities.
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5. Taking into consideration, when establishing ovens, steam and other sources of heat, the
requirements of technical prevention issued by the competent authorities, and to be
supervised by the experts of this field.
6. Covering hot gas pipelines or exhausts of machinery, of internal combustion, with insulation
materials to ensure that they produce no radiation heat and that the surrounding air does not
immediately touch their hot shapes.
7. Taking preventive measures to avoid deficiency of equipment and electrical extensions to be
in accordance with technical rules s and standards along with continual checkup and
maintenance, and the risk of accumulation of static electricity must be avoided by following the
necessary technical measures.
8. Dividing the warehouses of raw materials, productions or wastes, particularly flammable
ones, into divisions by way of automatic dividing walls of fire‐resistant type which have fire‐
proof doors, shut automatically, in case of fire in any given division and which isolates it from
other warehouses, and that the said warehouses must be fitted with the appropriate means of
automatic extinguishers.
9. Not to leave any uncovered sparks, flames or any other source of fire in places containing
liquids, flammable gas or combustible materials, including the activities of welding and tin‐
plating or any other activities that use high temperature unless appropriate measures are
taken.
10. The elimination of flammable or combustible industrial wastes; non‐accumulation of the
said materials; and clean up workplaces periodically.
11. The use of safe containers or tanks for storing and handling liquids or flammable gases with
limited amounts, determined by competent authorities, and stored in designated warehouses.
12. The ban of smoking within workplaces; announcing relevant instructions within the said
workplaces; and imposing assessed penalties upon those who breach them.
13. Informing workers of the risks of fire and how to prevent it; the risks that lead to fire; the
means of preventing fire; and to train them how to safely use the primary means of fire control.
Article (44)
The employer is obliged to take all necessary precautions and requirements to prevent
explosions in the facility, taking into consideration the following:
1. Implementing the requirements mentioned in the previous article should fire lead to an
explosion.
2. Storing compressed gas cylinders in special warehouses fitted with umbrellas to protect from
the sun and are particularly equipped for this purpose, along with the necessary precautions
taken when moved and used.
3. Storing all explosive materials in special warehouses, taking into account the technical
security requirements and the spaces between them and other facilities which will be
determined by the competent authorities.
4. Storing detonator materials and explosive materials in separate warehouses and must not be
stored in one place.
5. Sealing the source of operations containing potentially explosive materials and that is, to
prevent the leakage of the said materials to the work environment.
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6. Providing appropriate ventilation to the extent that the concentration of material, in work
environment, is not up to the concentration of an explosion.
7. All pressure receptacles, equipment and instruments, that are vulnerable to the risk of
explosions, should be in accordance with the technical specifications and safety equipment
which automatically operate; checked periodically and the result is written down in a special
register.
8. Erecting buildings, with instruments and equipment vulnerable to explosions, within enough
distance from other facilities; and should be equipped with means of alleviating the degree of
explosions such as the products of discharging the internal pressure of a building, that the
ceilings and walls are easily separated or other means of protection.
9. All instruments and mechanical equipment or handheld tools should be of non‐sparking
types when in use and that is, in sites loaded with a material or materials vulnerable to
explosions. Further, all connections and electrical equipment should be of non‐sparking type.
10. Using flame barriers to prevent gas and vapor explosions whenever it is possible.
11. Educating the workers of the risks of an explosion, the methods of its prevention and how
to act when it occurs.
Article (45)
The employer is obliged to have the workplaces fitted with fire extinguishers suitable with the
risks of fires expected, taking into consideration that the said fittings should be valid for use on
an ongoing basis, and that the fittings include water sources and extinguishers whose numbers
and types are suitable with the risks expected.
The Civil Defense Department should be consulted to define the types and specifications of the
said fittings taking into consideration the following:
1. Displaying fire extinguishers in visible places with easy access such as the passages leading to
outside or near the doors from inside or outside; and should the activity practiced be
dangerous with which the possibility of fire spreads quickly, it would be preferable that the
locations of some equipment be in the passages leading to the stairs in multi‐storey buildings.
2. Ensuring the validity and the effectiveness of the means of combating fires; developing a
constant periodic system for their maintenance; and recording the inspection date and the date
of next maintenance.
Article (46)
The employer is obliged to supply the facility with an adequate and suitable means of alarm in
case of fire, so it can be heard at the same time over all divisions of the facility, and regular
tests of the warning devices should be carried out monthly provided that the results are
recorded in a special register.
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Article (47)
The employer is obliged to develop a plan for evacuation in emergency cases, train the workers
how to inform of fire once discovered, and also how to use the alarm devices distributed across
the buildings.
Article (48)
A team made up of a proper number of workers should be set up to combat fire, train them on
means of controlling fire, how to activate the alarm devices, and to ensure that the maximum
number of workers are enlightened how to utilize the fire extinguishers available in place.
Section 7 – Precautions to Protect from Dangers
Article (49)
Lighting, natural or artificial, should be enough and appropriate to the type of work handled
and in accordance with safe lighting, taking into consideration the following:
1. The distribution of windows, skylights and natural light vents should allow the distribution of
light on a regular basis in the workplace.
2. The sources of natural or artificial light should be distributed to provide homogenous
illumination free of direct glare and reflecting light, and should not lead to shadows obscuring
the machinery and instruments, taking into account avoiding the considerable variation of light
distribution in the places close to each other.
Article (50)
The employer is obliged to take safe precautions to protect the workers against the damages of
noises and vibrations and that is, by stopping or decreasing noises and vibrations that are
dangerous to the health of workers from the source or by any other engineering means, along
with supplying the workers with the appropriate ear protectors, taking into account that the
intensity of noise or the duration of exposure does not exceed the authorized levels.
Article (51)
1. Necessary precautions should be taken to avoid high temperatures in workplaces; the
temperature must be suitable for the nature of work and the amount of effort made within;
and that safety standards are applied.
2. It is an obligation to supply the workers, when exposed to low temperature in the work
environment, with gloves, socks, boots and heavy wool clothing or fur‐lined clothing so they
can cover the whole body. It is also an obligation, after being exposed to low temperature, to
provide places equipped with proper heating.
3. Should the work be in open places that would expose the workers to the sunlight, it is an
obligation to supply them with head‐gear protection, and proper gloves and boots along with
supplying cold drinking water, taking into account in rainy seasons to supply the workers with
safety jackets, as well as allocating air‐conditioned places for the use workers to rest on the
dates specified.
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Article (52)
Natural or artificial ventilation should be enough and appropriate that prevents the stagnation
of air or the slowness of its regeneration, avoiding having polluted air, drafts, high rate of
humidity and temperature or their sudden change, or the spread of odors.
Article (53)
Necessary precautions should be taken in case of cauldrons, boilers or ovens exist when
welding processes are carried out and that is, by way of using safety barriers to prevent thermal
radiation, issued from them, to protect the workers in the vicinity.
Section 8 – Protective Precautions against Risks of Chemical, Hazardous & Deleterious Materials
Article (54)
The employer is obliged to take necessary precautions to protect the workers and the working
environment against the risks of chemical materials and their interactions whether they are
solid, liquid or gas materials, taking into consideration not to exceed the authorized limit of
their concentration in the work environment.
Article (55)
Safe means of prevention should be taken to eliminate dust, fumes, gases, vapors and other
harmful materials when produced and that is, by using vacuuming equipment, developing
artificial ventilation system or by any other suitable engineering means.
Article (56)
The employer is obliged to take all necessary precautions and measures to protect the workers
against hazardous and deleterious materials which prevent the exposure of workers to the said
materials, taking into consideration the use of any other suitable engineering means replacing
the industrial and harmful raw materials.
Article (57)
The Labor inspector has the right of looking at the commercial and scientific names materials
and chemical raw composites and the ancillaries used in industrial processes, in order to
determine the safety levels of hazardous and deleterious materials and composites that are
allowed to exist or be present in the workplace.
Article (58)
It is an obligation to prevent the accumulation of dust on the floor and machinery on continual
basis, along with cleaning the place by using sweeping after wetting or using electric vacuums,
in order to limit the spread of deleterious materials.
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Section 9 – General Services
Article (59)
The employer is committed to the following:
1. Allocating places, for the rest of workers or eating, in every facility in which the nature of
work necessitates that on the condition that the necessary health requirements are provided.
2. Allocating places for workers to change clothing and keep them within the facility in which
the nature of work necessitates that workers use special clothing, while supplying the said
places with specified cupboards to keep the clothing.
3. Preparing appropriate bathrooms for showering whose number is suitable with the number
of workers, and supplying them with the necessary cleaning materials to clean the body from
pollutants and that is, in the activities which expose the workers and their clothing to pollution.
4. Supplying enough amounts of cold drinking water, in order to be received by all workers with
the appropriate means and amounts.
5. Supplying the appropriate number of lavatories, in every facility, suitable with the number of
workers; supplying them with proper disinfectants and detergents; and must have good
ventilation and lighting.
6. Using the appropriate means, determined by the competent authorities, for excreta disposal
particularly for facilities distant from built‐up areas and which have no sewers or draining
reservoirs.
Section 10 – Final Clauses
Article (60)
Personnel, specialized in implementing the Labor law and its implementing resolutions in the
area of safety and occupational health, are obliged to notify the competent authorities and
request them to cease work fully or partially, or cease a specified machine or industrial process
in case of an imminent danger against the safety of the workers or their health until safety
measures are taken to remove this threat.
Article (61)
All competent authorities, each in its authority, shall implement this resolution. It shall come
into force starting from the date of its publication in the official gazette.
Falah Bin Jasim Bin Jobr Al‐Thani
The Minister of Civil Service & Housing Affairs.
Date of issue: 21/08/1426 Hegira
Corresponding to: 25/09/2005
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