The UAE Authorities has issued Federal Decree-Legislation No. (12) of 2025, amending sure provisions regarding youngsters of unknown parentage as a part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen little one welfare and social safety.
The amendments reaffirm “the very best pursuits of the kid” as the basic precept guiding all selections associated to care, custody and upbringing, whereas aligning with the UAE’s legislative method to repeatedly enhancing legal guidelines that defend and empower youngsters.
The Decree-Legislation displays the UAE’s dedication to making sure a secure, secure and supportive household setting that meets the psychological, academic, well being and social wants of the kid.
Youngster welfare within the UAE
It reinforces the nation’s route 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 identification and privateness, enabling their constructive integration into society.
Underneath the amendments, custody could also be granted to households residing within the UAE, topic to particular circumstances. Foremost amongst these is that the appliance have to 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 secure household setting that fulfils the kid’s developmental wants.
The detailed circumstances and controls governing residency inside the UAE shall be referred to the manager rules, making certain that the custodial household setting conforms to accredited requirements for custody and gives the best ranges of look after the adopted little one.
Custodial tasks
The Federal Decree-Legislation establishes a complete framework regulating the function of custodial households, together with tasks associated to training, well being and psychological follow-up, and compliance with guidelines designed to guard the kid’s pursuits, privateness and identification.
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 in step with accredited requirements.
In keeping 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 girl.
The girl should reside within the UAE, have accomplished 30 years of age, and be financially able to supporting herself and the adopted little one.
This provision expands custody choices whereas making certain that selections prioritise the kid’s greatest pursuits and empower ladies to fulfil their social and humanitarian roles.
Safeguards and corrective measures
The place the specialised committee determines {that a} breach isn’t critical, it might impose a corrective plan that the custodial household or girl custodian should implement inside the circumstances and timelines specified by the committee, making certain continuity of care inside a secure and secure setting that protects the kid’s rights and meets their wants.
The amendments underscore the UAE’s dedication to enhancing its little one safety framework according to its social and humanitarian values, reinforcing the ideas of justice, compassion and household empowerment.
The Federal Decree-Legislation displays the UAE’s resolve to make sure that youngsters of unknown parentage obtain dignified and complete care that permits their constructive integration into society and ensures equal alternatives for progress and studying, reinforcing the nation’s place as a world mannequin in social safety and humanitarian care.
