Authorities in the gulf nation have established a Fatwa Centre, where religious decrees will now be issued by officials working under the auspices of UAE's federal General Authority for Islamic Affairs.

The centre, which officials say is first of its kind in the Muslim world, has a toll free number offering phone services in Arabic, Urdu and English.

Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's Minister of Interior said that the centre "would promote virtue in the community".

Authority Director Hamdan Musallam Al Mazroui, said the new centre was part of a move to develop methods of issuing fatwas, regulate them, and curb extremist fatwas.

"Preachers and muftis are capable of being an official authority to issue fatwas, preach and guide to further cement social bonds and relations among people and embody the sublime values of justice, equality and rightness," Nahyan was quoted by Gulf News.