In application of the provisions of this Law, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:

State: United Arab Emirates

Ministry: Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure.

Minister: Minister of Energy & Infrastructure

Competent Authority: The Local Government Agency for Registering Real Estate Transactions

Owners Association: An entity consisting of Real Estate Owners in accordance with the provisions of this law, and referred to by the phrase (Owners Association) or by the word (Association) in this law

General Assembly of the Association: An entity consisting of members joining the Association who own Real Estate Units in the same property, and in the event of multiple Owners of one Real Estate Unit, they shall have one representative in this Association

Articles of Association: Articles of Association of Owners Association

Common Parts Management System (CPMS): A set of rules decided by the General Assembly of the Owners Association for the purpose of managing, developing, investing, maintaining and preserving the Common Parts

The Board of Directors (BOD): Owners Association BOD.

Chairman of the BOD: Chairman of the Owners Association BOD

Director: Director of the Owners Association

Real Estate: Residential Neighbourhood or building

Residential Neighbourhood: A group of Real Estate Units owned by several people with common services and facilities 

Building: One independent building with accompanying and common services. It consists of a number of Real Estate Units and is owned by several people

Real Estate Unit: Villas, apartments, floors, parking lots, shops, or any part of the building can be detached

Person: Natural or legal person

Owner: A person who owns a Real Estate Unit, whether it is one or more

Common Parts: All parts of the property intended for common use, whether attached or separate, or any other part whose nature requires it to be joint..

Detached Parts: All built and non-built parts (dividable ) and owned by a specific person or persons for the purpose of benefiting from them, as determined by the CPMS

Maintenance: The works necessary to preserve the property or the benefit, whether it is for an independent Real Estate Unit, for Common Parts, or for Detached Parts.