Learn More About Adoption in the UAE

Author: Dr. Hassan Elhais

Adoption is not specifically recognized under the UAE Laws. However, Federal Law No. 1/2012
Concerning the Custody of Children of Unknown Parentage (Custody Law) and the Federal Law No. 3/2016
On Child's Rights (Wadeema's Law) provide protection and care for children of unknown parentage in the
UAE.

What do the UAE laws say about adoption?

According to Article 24 of the Wadeema’s Law, a child who is deprived of his natural family either
temporarily or permanently has the right to alternate care through a foster family or a private / public social
welfare institution in the event of unavailability of foster family.

The Custody Law aims to organize care for children whose parents are not known by establishing care
homes and organizing custodial families who would provide health, psychological, social and educational
care for them.

What are Care Homes and Foster Families?

Care Homes: According to the Custody Law, a child of unknown parentage is referred to a care home by
the public prosecution. These care homes are created by the Ministry of Social Affairs under Article 5 of the
Custody Law, to take care of the children of unknown parentage and provide comprehensive care including
living necessities such as food, clothing and housing, social, health and psychological care, educational
opportunities, developing creative, artistic and intellectual abilities, integration with other children at sports,
cultural clubs and camps, amongst other things.

The care home should also inculcate noble values in the children and strengthen the national identity and
build the sense of belonging in the country. The care homes will choose a full name for the child and register
the child in the official papers under Article 3 of the Custody Law.

There may be some conditions of accepting a child of unknown parentage into a care home. These
conditions have been set out in Article 9 of the Ministerial Decision No. 368 of 2014 On the Implementing
Regulation of Federal Law No 1/2012 on Children of Unknown Kinship and include, amongst others, that a
child must be of unknown parents, must be born on the territory of the State, and must have no infectious
diseases, etc.

Custodial Families: If a family wishes to adopt a child of unknown parentage, an application would have to
be filed with the Ministry under Article 9. The custodian family would have to satisfy certain conditions to
be eligible to take care of a child.

Article 10 of the Custody Law sets out these conditions which require the custodian family to be:
 a. Muslim, Emirati and residing in the UAE;
b. a couple aged at least 25 years;
c. Never convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty;
d. Free of diseases or disorders which could affect the child’s health and safety. Exemptions may be
provided in case the diseases do not pose a threat on the child’s health.
e. Capable of supporting the members and the adopted child financially
f. Able to take care of the child, his health, education, and growth.
g. Any other condition as decided by the Ministry.

A female Muslim Emirati, residing in the UAE and being at least 30 years old, could be given custody of a
child of unknown parentage if she is single, divorced, widowed or her husband has been missing for a long
time. However, she must be financially capable of supporting the child.

Conclusion

The above provides a broad outlook on the concept and process of custody of abandoned children in the
UAE.

Related Links
Law on Family Matters for Expatriates living in the UAE: Part II
Law on Family Matters for Expatriates living in the UAE: Part III
Child Custody Law in the United Arab Emirates

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