The UAE Authorities has issued Federal Decree-Regulation No. (12) of 2025, amending sure provisions regarding kids of unknown parentage as a part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen baby welfare and social safety.
The amendments reaffirm “the perfect pursuits of the kid” as the elemental precept guiding all choices associated to care, custody and upbringing, whereas aligning with the UAE’s legislative method to constantly enhancing legal guidelines that shield and empower kids.
The Decree-Regulation displays the UAE’s dedication to making sure a steady, secure and supportive household atmosphere that meets the psychological, instructional, well being and social wants of the kid.
Baby welfare within the UAE
It reinforces the nation’s path in the direction of establishing an built-in and superior system that gives complete care for kids of unknown parentage, protects their rights, and preserves their id and privateness, enabling their constructive integration into society.
Below the amendments, custody could also be granted to households residing within the UAE, topic to particular circumstances. Foremost amongst these is that the appliance should be collectively submitted by each spouses and that every has accomplished 25 years of age.
These necessities are meant to make sure maturity, duty and the capability to offer a steady household atmosphere that fulfils the kid’s developmental wants.
The detailed circumstances and controls governing residency throughout the UAE shall be referred to the chief rules, guaranteeing that the custodial household atmosphere conforms to authorized requirements for custody and offers the best ranges of take care of the adopted baby.
Custodial obligations
The Federal Decree-Regulation establishes a complete framework regulating the function of custodial households, together with obligations associated to schooling, well being and psychological follow-up, and compliance with guidelines designed to guard the kid’s pursuits, privateness and id.
The amendments additionally introduce mechanisms for periodic monitoring and analysis of custodial households by a specialised committee.
These measures are meant to make sure continuity and high quality of care, strengthen accountability, and confirm that custodial environments stay per authorized requirements.
In step with the UAE’s dedication to selling ladies’s social function and their involvement in household care, the amendments enable custody of a kid of unknown parentage to be granted to an eligible lady.
The girl should reside within the UAE, have accomplished 30 years of age, and be financially able to supporting herself and the adopted baby.
This provision expands custody choices whereas guaranteeing that choices prioritise the kid’s finest pursuits and empower ladies to fulfil their social and humanitarian roles.
Safeguards and corrective measures
The place the specialised committee determines {that a} breach just isn’t critical, it might impose a corrective plan that the custodial household or lady custodian should implement throughout the circumstances and timelines specified by the committee, guaranteeing continuity of care inside a secure and steady atmosphere that protects the kid’s rights and meets their wants.
The amendments underscore the UAE’s dedication to enhancing its baby safety framework according to its social and humanitarian values, reinforcing the ideas of justice, compassion and household empowerment.
The Federal Decree-Regulation displays the UAE’s resolve to make sure that kids of unknown parentage obtain dignified and complete care that allows their constructive integration into society and ensures equal alternatives for development and studying, reinforcing the nation’s place as a world mannequin in social safety and humanitarian care.
