UAE law children of unknown parentage has been updated through Federal Decree-Law No. (12) of 2025, placing the best interests of the child at the centre of all decisions on care, custody and upbringing. The amendments create a more comprehensive framework to protect the rights, identity and privacy of children without known parents, while supporting their psychological, educational, health and social needs.
Key aims of the new decree-law
The updated law reinforces the UAE’s broader child protection agenda by ensuring that legal provisions keep pace with social developments and international best practices. It establishes an integrated care system designed to provide a stable, safe and nurturing environment for children of unknown parentage, helping them to integrate positively into society.
By focusing on identity protection and privacy, the decree-law seeks to shield children from stigma or discrimination, while guaranteeing access to essential services that support healthy development and long-term wellbeing.
Custody for families residing in the UAE
Under the amendments, custody can be granted to families residing in the UAE if specific conditions are met. Applications must be submitted jointly by spouses, and each partner must be at least 25 years old, ensuring sufficient maturity and capacity to provide a stable home. Detailed residency and suitability conditions are referred to the executive regulations, which will set standards for housing, income, and overall family environment.
Custodial families are given clear responsibilities covering education, health care, psychological support and day-to-day upbringing. They must also comply with rules designed to safeguard the child’s interests, privacy and identity, reinforcing the concept of a structured, accountable family-based care model.
Expanded role for eligible women as custodians
To widen custody options and reflect the UAE’s commitment to women’s social and caregiving roles, the law allows an eligible woman residing in the UAE to obtain custody of a child of unknown parentage independently. She must be at least 30 years old and financially capable of supporting both herself and the child, ensuring stability and self-sufficiency.
A specialised committee is tasked with periodically monitoring and evaluating both custodial families and individual women custodians. This regular oversight helps maintain care quality, verify that conditions remain compliant, and ensure that the child’s best interests are consistently upheld over time.
Corrective measures and removal in case of non-compliance
If custody conditions are no longer met, or if legal obligations are breached, the decree-law permits authorities to remove the child from the custodial family or woman custodian. This safeguard is intended to protect children from neglect, harm or unsuitable environments.
Where the specialised committee concludes that the violation is not serious enough to warrant immediate removal, it can impose a corrective plan with clear conditions and timelines. The family or custodian must implement these measures to address shortcomings, allowing the child to remain in a familiar setting while improving safety and care standards.
Gulf Repost explains key legal and social policy changes across the UAE in clear, accessible language, from child protection reforms and family law updates to education, residency and labour regulations. By breaking down new decrees and frameworks, Gulf Repost helps residents, families and professionals understand how evolving laws shape rights, responsibilities and everyday life in the Emirates.
