Law No. 15 of 2008 concerning Protection of Groundwater in the Emirate of Dubai.

This Law consisting of 25 articles aims at protecting the groundwater in the Emirate of Dubai from pollution, drain and salinization, as well as maintaining strategic stock of the groundwater for emergency cases. The provisions of this Law shall apply to all water basins and groundwater wells in the Emirate, excluding the wells of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
Dubai Municipality shall (i) designate the areas in which extraction of groundwater is permitted: (ii) establish the environmental and engineering standards and conditions required for utilization of groundwater resources; (iii) establish the standards and controls required for preventing groundwater pollution, salinization or drain; (iv) designate the number of wells permitted to be established in a geographical area, and shall designate the depth, dimensions and distances between them; (v) issue licenses for drilling; and (vi) designate the quantities of water allowed to be extracted from the well on a daily or annual basis. No one shall practice drilling of wells in the Emirate without obtaining license from the Municipality (art.8). The Groundwater extracted from the well shall be subject to quality control by the Municipality (art.10). The Owner shall keep a special register in which all the details relating to the well shall be entered (art.12). It is prohibited use groundwater for sale or trade for irrigation of commercial agricultural products and store any hazardous materials or exercise any activity on the ground or underground within the water basin areas. Employees and inspectors of the Municipality shall have the capacity of investigation officers in proving the acts committed in violation of the provisions of this Law.