Federal Decree Law for Defining the Maritime Areas of the United Arab Emirates
Formal Name: Formal Name Federal Decree Law No. (19) of 1993 for Defining the Maritime Areas of the United Arab Emirates
We, Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates,
Pursuant to the perusal of the provisional Constitution constitution; and
Federal Law no. 1 of 1972 concerning the Jurisdiction of Ministries and the Powers of the Ministers and the amending laws thereof; and
Federal Law no. 45 of 1992 concerning the Organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and
Acting upon the proposal of the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, the approval of the Cabinet and the ratification of the Federal Supreme Council,
Have promulgated the following Law:
Article (1) Definitions
In the implementation of the provisions hereof, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings assigned for each of them unless the context requires otherwise:
State: The United Arab Emirates State.
Baseline: The line from which the measurement of the territorial sea begins.
Island: A natural formation of land surrounded from all sides by water provided that it is not submerged by water in the event of high tides.
Archipelago: A group of two or more Islands constituting along with the water between or linking them a coherent unit from both geographical and economic sides.
Low Tide Cusp: A natural formation of land surrounded from all sides by water, and which cusp emerges from water in the event of low tides yet is submerged by water in the event of high tides.
Gulf: A sharp indentation which extension into the land is of adequate depth with the width of its opening. The indentation engulfs water and is larger than the mere limited shoreline cove.
Coast: The Arabian Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Oman Coast.
Nautical Mile: One thousand eight hundred and fifty two meters.