The Council is called “Italian Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates”, hereinafter called the “Council” or “I.B.C.D.”, which shall have the legal personality and legal capacity necessary to carry out activities and actions that achieve its objectives and shall has its premises in the Emirate of Dubai. This Council operates under the umbrella and supervision of Dubai Chambers in accordance with the Regulations Organizing Business Councils of Dubai Chambers.

A. Companies / Organizations Membership

1. Overseas Corporate Members

The representatives of Companies not based in the UAE but have business interests and/or relationships with Italy and Italian companies. Overseas Corporate Members have no voting rights.

2. Corporate Members

The representatives of Companies operating or having business interests in the Country through branches, representatives offices or any other legal entity and/or in commercial or partnership with others, with not than less than 49% of local entity owned by Italian citizens or Italian companies; or local entities fully owned by Italian citizen/s or Italian companies that are associated with the I.B.C.D., having duly paid their membership fee.

B. Individual Membership

Any business owners and experts, Italian or non-Italian, who is interested in furthering the objectives of the Council given that they:

• Have not been convicted of a felony or any crime that affects their honor and integrity;
• Is not declared bankrupt prior to joining the Council unless he weas reinstated;
• Have full legal capacity in accordance with the applicable laws in the State;
• This membership may not be assigned or transferred to others.

C. Honorary Membership

Government Entities and public personalities, governmental officials active or retired in the State diplomatic personnel, any other personalities in recognition of their extraordinary or meritorious services. This membership is exempted from paying membership fees in accordance with the terms and conditions of Dubai Chambers.

• H.E. the Chairman of the Dubai Chambers;
• H.E. the Italian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates;
• H.E. the Consul General of Italy;
• The Italian Trade Commissioner (I.C.E.);
• The former Presidents of the “ B. C. D.”, if resident in the U.A.E.

D. The council’s Board of Directors may approve any member to join the Council if it is deemed appropriate by a majority of vote.

• A member shall either loss or forfeit the Council membership in any of the following cases:

1. Death of an individual member.
2. Inability to perform his/her duties or loss of capacity due to any of the impediments to legal capacity as established by the applicable laws.
3. If an Individual member is convicted of any crime involving his/her honesty and integrity.
4. If a member declares his/her bankruptcy or ceased to pay his/her debts, even if it is not accompanied by declaring his/her bankruptcy.
5. Cessation of the legal status of the Council.
6. Dissolution or liquidation of the legal entity of the corporate member.
7. Loss or cancelation of commercial/professional license of the corporate member.
8. Non-payment of membership fees.
9. If a member did not adhere to his/her duties or the general principles of good faith or rules of conduct or confidentiality or non-conflict of interest or anti-fraud.
10. If a Council member submits documents containing false information to Dubai Chambers or concealing important information from Dubai Chambers.
11. Termination in accordance with the decision of the General Assembly following a recommendation from the Council Board of Directors.
12. If a member requests to be relieved from his duties by virtue of a written notice.

• If the Council whether in its Ordinary General Assembly Meeting or an Extraordinary Assembly Meeting considers that the conduct of one of the Council members is injurious to the objectives and interests of the Council, the Council Board of Directors shall, upon instructions of the General Assembly, terminate the Member’s membership effective immediately. The quorum and majority required by the Assembly to adopt such resolution shall be as established in Article 7 of the Council’s Articles of Association.
• The cancelled membership may be re-instated if the Council Board of Directors, at its discretion and by simple majority vote, decides that there are reasons to believe that the situation or conduct that gave rise to the resignation or cancellation will be corrected.

• The general assembly meeting shall be comprised of all Members who satisfy membership requirements and have paid their membership fees prior to the general assembly meeting.
• The general assembly meeting shall be held at least once a year within the first 3 (three) months following the end of its financial year in person and/or by means of virtual communication, upon a written invitation from the Chairman to the contact details given to the Council Board of Directors upon submission of Council membership application. The invitation shall be sent at least (21) twenty-one days prior to the date set for holding the meeting and attach a meeting agenda including the topics to be discussed. In case a quorum is not met, the meeting shall be adjourned for (30) thirty minutes, after which if there is no quorum, then those present shall constitute a quorum, except for the first General Assembly Meeting of the Council which needs to meet the quorum requirements set out in these Articles of Association.
• The quorum for a Council general assembly meeting shall be (50%) fifty percent of the voting members and (1) one Member.
• The fixed agenda of the Council general assembly meeting is: 1- Sharing and approving the annual report of the Council. 2- Sharing the audit report of the previous financial year. 3- Approving the financial statement of the prior financial year. 4- Adopting the budget for the upcoming financial year. 5- Appointing new auditors. 6- Any other issue proposed by the voting members and approved by the meeting chairperson may be added to the agenda.
• Corporate members shall have 2 votes. The company may appoint two of its employees as a representative in the Council, such appointment shall be in writing, any of the representatives or both can be replaced by written notice at any time during the validity of the membership without additional fees. A proxy may be appointed from the same representatives for voting on its behalf only at the Council meetings. The written proxy shall be submitted by the delegated member to the meeting chairperson at the beginning of the Council meetings, provided that each delegate shall not act as a proxy of more than (2) two members at any meeting.
• The individual and professional members may delegate others to represent his in the Council meeting, any individual and professional member shall be entitled for one vote.
• Overseas Corporate Members have no voting rights.
• Approval of resolution shall be adopted with majority votes of the Members present and represented by proxy. 

1. Extraordinary General Assembly may be called by a request from at least (75%) seventy-five percent of the Council Board of Directors and/or more than (50%) fifty percent of the General Assembly Members with voting rights.
2. The Chairman shall announce the request for an Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting within (7) seven days from the date of receiving the request attaching a meeting agenda including the topics to be discussed and whether the meeting will be in person or by virtual means. However, the Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting shall be held between (14) fourteen days and (21) twenty-one days after the announcement.
3. The quorum for an Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting shall be (75%) seventy five percent of the voting Members.
4. In case a quorum is not met, the Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting will be adjourned for (7) seven days. If, at the subsequent meeting at least (20%) twenty percent of Members are in attendance, that shall be sufficient to form quorum. If that second meeting is still not quorate, then the meeting will again be adjourned for another (7) seven days and those present shall constitute a quorum.
5. Agenda may be:

• Actions towards members;
• Dissolution and liquidation of the I.B.C.D.

• Each Individual member has (1) one vote and each Corporate Members has a maximum of (2) two votes.
• In case of an equality of votes, a second round of voting shall take place. If equality of votes is obtained again, the meeting Chairperson shall have the casting vote.
• In case of virtual meetings, the Council Board of Directors may call the online voting with at least (15) fifteen days and at most (30) thirty days’ notice. The quorum for any online voting shall be (75%) seventy five percent of the voting Members. Each Member votes only once and no proxy to another Member is accepted.
• Only those Members with voting rights and who have a valid membership and settled their membership fees as specified in the Articles of Associations are eligible to vote during any Council Meetings.

• The General Assembly shall elect among its Members a Council Board of Directors consisting of no less than (5) five and not more than (9) nine Members. The names of the nominated Members shall be provided to the Dubai Chambers in advance of the Meeting. In the event of resignation or termination by a member of the Council Board of Directors, the Council Board of Directors shall notify the Dubai Chambers. If the Council Board of Directors Members reduce in number to less than (5) five, then elections for a new Board Member should be held within (30) thirty days thereof.
• The members of the Council Board of Directors shall elect the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, if required, a Secretary General and any other position. The Vice-Chairman can assume all the duties of the Chairman if deputized by the Chairman or in case of the absence of the Chairman.
• The Council Board of Directors shall consist of the following: 1- At least (50%) fifty percent of businesses licensed in the Emirate. 2- At least C-Level management representing their companies. Equivalent management positions, for corporate members of Category (A) including but not limited to General Managers and Managing Directors, are permitted provided these are approved by the Dubai Chambers. 3- The Chairman must represent a business licensed in the Emirate. 4- In case the term of the Chairman ends, he/she must serve at least (3) three months on the Council Board of Directors as a transition period to ensure a smooth handover and he must continue in his tenure until the election of a new Chairman of the Council Board.
• The new Chairman of the Council Board of Directors must be elected within a period not exceeding (3) three months form the date of the end of the Chairman’s tenure.
• The term of the Council Board of Directors membership should not exceed (2) two consecutive terms, each term consisting of (2) two years, Including Chairman and Vice Chairman. A third term for the Council Board of Directors membership is permitted provided the following:

1. the consent of (75%) seventy-five percent of the Council Members is obtained; and
2. the successful self-evaluation of the performance of the Council Board of Directors based on KPIs set by the Council Board of Directors from time to time. 

• The member of the Council Board of Directors shall lose and forfeit his membership in any of the following cases:

1. Inability to perform the duties or loss of capacity due to any of the impediments to legal capacity as established by law.
2. Resignation by written notice to the Council Board of Directors.
3. If such member of the Council Board of Directors fails to attend (2) two consecutive meetings of the Council Board of Directors during its term without an excuse acceptable by the Council Board of Directors.
4. If such member of the Council Board of Directors did not adhere to perform his/her duties or the general principles of good faith or rules of conduct or confidentiality or non-conflict of interest or anti-fraud.

• The vacant seat in the Council Board of Directors shall be filled as stipulated in Article 10 of these Articles of Association.

• The Council Board of Directors shall have the following tasks and powers:

1. Fulfil the objectives desired from founding the Council to enhance business network, bilateral economic relations, interests, and knowledge sharing.
2. Adopt the Council’s strategic, developmental, operational, and financial plans, and overseeing their implementation.
3. Perform all functions specified in these Articles of Association.
4. Develop the vision, mission, strategic objectives, and propose action plans to be approved by the General Assembly of the Council and communicate it accordingly.
5. Organize a minimum number of events, trainings and workshops as set out and approved by the Council Board.
6. To jointly work with Dubai Chambers to implement a mechanism to grow the membership base and expand the Council.
7. Form Council Board of Directors Committees as it sees fit, whether at the Council Board level or at its Members’ level, headed by a Board Member.
8. Review these Articles of Association at least once every (5) five years and propose necessary amendments if required.
9. Liaise between the Council and Dubai Chambers and present the issues and proposals requiring consideration by the Government Entities to Dubai Chambers for intervention and assistance to resolve the same.
10. Discuss the issues referred to it by Dubai Chambers and provide recommendations thereto.
11. Engage in Dubai Chambers advocacy activities through participation in surveys, studies, meetings, events, and other activities.
12. Submit to Dubai Chambers at least once a year the challenges facing the sector and propose recommendations and solutions.
13. Adopt a succession plan to ensure the sustainability of the Council.
14. Appoint authorized signatories for bank accounts and determining their powers by virtue of a signatory matrix; noting that a minimum of two (2) Council Board of Directors members are needed to operate the account(s).

• Any other tasks necessary to achieve objectives of the Council assigned to it by Dubai Chambers.

The chairman shall assume the following tasks and powers:

1. Representing the Council before federal and local Government Entities and international entities.
2. Convening the Council Board of Directors Meetings, approving the agenda of the meetings and approving their minutes, signing the resolutions adopted by the Council Board of Directors, and supervising their implementation.
3. Calling for General Assembly Meetings and chairing those meetings.
4. Overseeing the preparation of reports and proposals on the affairs and matters of the Council and submitting them to Dubai Chambers.
5. Any other tasks or powers necessary to achieve the objectives of the Council assigned to it by the Council Board of Directors.

1. The Council Board of Directors shall hold a minimum of (4) four meetings annually.
2. The meetings of the Council Board of Directors shall be convened upon an invitation by its Chairman sent a minimum of (10) ten days before the planned meeting.
3. If the meetings of the Council Board of Directors are not convened for (6) six consecutive months, Dubai Chambers shall call the Council Board of Directors for a meeting and if no response is received within (15) fifteen days, Dubai Chambers shall request Council’s general assembly to elect a new Council Board of Directors.
4. The quorum for the Council Board of Directors shall be half of the Members and (1) one Member.

• Resolutions shall be issued by a simple majority of the Council Board of Directors, and each Member of the Council Board of Directors shall have one vote. In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.
• The resolutions shall be considered effective from the date of their issuance unless they specify a later date for their implementation.
• The Council Board of Directors may in urgent cases, issue some of its resolutions by circulation. Such resolutions shall be considered valid and effective as if they had been taken in a convened and duly held meeting, taking into account the following:

1. The approval of the Council Board of Directors Members by the majority that the situation requiring the issuance of the resolution by circulation is urgent.
2. A written resolution must be submitted to all Council Board of Directors Members for approval, accompanied by all documents required for its review.
3. All resolutions passed by circulation must be approved by a majority in writing and must be presented at the next meeting to be included in the minutes of the meeting.

1. Each Member of the Council Board of Directors, during the term of the membership and during the performance of his tasks as a Member of the Council Board of Directors, must avoid any conflict that may arise between his personal interests and the interests of the Council, and avoid any action that might raise any doubt of a conflict of interest, and must take the necessary measures and steps to avoid becoming involved in a conflict of interest.
2. The Member of the Council Board of Directors must disclose in advance any conflict of interest or suspicion thereof, and any previous conflict or current conflict or potential conflict or the emergence of a conflict must be disclosed at all times.
3. In case of conflict of interest, said member of the Council Board of Directors shall not participate in the voting on the decision issued in this regard, if proven otherwise, the relevant vote shall be excluded and the legal quorum shall be reconsidered to adopt the resolution or its invalidity, and this shall be recorded in the minutes of the following meeting.
4. All Council members shall adhere to competition laws and regulations. Furthermore, Council members are prohibited from engaging in conduct that may be deemed by Dubai Chambers as unfair competition in the Council’s respective sector.

Each Member of the Council Board of Directors during the term of membership or in the event of loss or forfeiture or end of membership shall maintain the confidentiality of the information of which they have become aware by virtue of their membership or because of it and shall not disclose or reveal the information, whether in writing or verbally.

1. The Council’s liability shall be limited exclusively to the extent of its own assets.
2. No Council member shall assume liability for any debt or obligation of the Council due to its Council membership.
3. Board of Directors members or members of the Council shall not be personally liable except for cases of intentional or gross negligence.

• The Council shall:

1. Open a bank account in any State national bank deemed fit by the Council Board of Directors.
2. Prepare the budget and keep the financial record of the Council as per the accounting standard.
3. Issue annual financial statements which shall be prepared and audited by independent audit firms, in conformity with the Applicable Laws.
4. Provide copy of the annual budget and financial records to Dubai Chambers.
5. The fiscal year of the Council shall begin on 1st of January and shall end on 31st of December of each calendar year.

• The Council shall finance its operations mainly by:

1. Annual membership fees.
2. Revenue from Events or other activities of the Council.

• The General Assembly shall appoint auditor(s) for a term of one renewable year provided that the auditor(s) elected shall serve for a maximum period of six (6) consecutive fiscal years from the date of assuming the audit thereof. The auditor(s) may be reassigned to audit the Council’s accounts after the lapse of at least two (2) fiscal years from the date of the expiry of its appointment period.
• The Council General Assembly shall determine the fees of the auditor(s).

The Board of Directors may refer to the Regulations Organizing the Business Councils of Dubai Chambers for issues not stipulated in these Articles of Associations.

1. Any disputes that may arise between any members of the Council, shall be settled amicably, in the event that an amicable solution is not possible, a vote to resolve the dispute shall be made by the majority of the Council’s Board of Directors, and its decision in this regard shall be final.
2. These Articles of Associations shall be governed by the laws of the State. Dubai Courts shall have the jurisdiction to look into any dispute.