Child Adoption Cases in UAE

Child Adoption is a debate for many foreigners in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Being in the Islamic state, Muslims have to follow Sharia laws, which means that they cannot adopt a child as their biological child so they can inherit whatever the biological could have. Islamic and civil laws govern the adoption laws in the UAE.

Unlike Western countries, the UAE does not encourage child adoption, but it allows charitable organizations to provide opportunities to people who are interested in fostering relationships or guardianships. There is a thin line between child adoption and fostering. Under child adoption, you might have the legal status of parenthood, but the child cannot inherit property. However, fostering ensures a safe environment for the child while the family does not have to claim for legal parenthood.

The UAE government ensures child protection under the WADEEMA LAW. However, child adoption is governed under child protection laws. It ensures that the child’s well-being is looked after and they have a safe and healthy environment in which to grow up. Child adoption is prohibited in Islam; however, under the following conditions, guardianship can be requested in the UAE:

• Kafala

In Islam, child adoption has an aspect of guardianship under which the family is responsible for the upbringing of the child, but they cannot change their legal identity, such as their full name.

• Fostering

The concept of fostering allows people to support the child without making any legal claim on their parenthood.

The UAE does priorities the welfare of the child regardless of their religion or culture, let’s have a look in details:

• Sharia Law Compliance

Under the UAE legal system, the adoption laws are practiced with reference to Islamic values. A child’s name or their identity cannot be changed if adopted by a family.

• Federal Law No. 3 of 2016

The child rights law known as WADEEMA LAW ensures child protection, whether it concerns education or guardianship. According to WADEEMA LAW, every child in the UAE has access to a safe environment, good medical facilities, and excellent education.

• Custody and Guardianship

The family courts in the UAE consider guardianship, ensuring the decision is made in the child’s best interests.

If you are interested in fostering a child in the UAE, there is a systematic approach to doing so:

Eligibility Criteria

To become a foster family, you must have the following:

• UAE residency
• Financial stability
• Evidence of providing a safe environment to the child

• Application Process

An application should be filed with the relevant organizations, whether you are adopting the child from a charitable or government organization such as the Ministry of Community Development (MOCD).

• Background Checks

The authorities must conduct background checks on the family planning to adopt a child to ensure that the child will be brought up in a good environment. The family must also ensure financial stability, safe living conditions, and zero criminal records.

• Training and Counseling

The foster family goes through training and counselling sessions, where they learn about their responsibilities as foster parents. This will prepare them for better parenting skills.

• Regular Follow-Ups

The family will be going through regular follow-ups with the authorities to ensure that the child is happy to live with that family.

There are very few organizations that deal with child adoption cases, ensuring the safety of the child:

• Emirates Red Crescent

The organization sponsors orphans and vulnerable children by taking various initiatives.

• Ministry of Community Development (MOCD)

The MOCD monitors the fostering process, ensures the child’s safety, and applies child laws according to the WADEEMA LAW in the UAE.

• Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC)

The organization provides shelter and counseling to vulnerable children. It also provides foster parents to children when a family wants to adopt a child.

• Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD)

The SSSD is a service department that offers fostering services to families in Sharjah.

• Challenges Involved in Child Adoption and Fostering in the UAE

Fostering is a good option for parents who cannot bear a child due to medical complications. Also, it provides support to orphans as they get a better environment when sent with a family. However, challenges are always there:

• Misconception

People do not know about the concept of fostering and child adoption. There is a misconception that child adoption is forbidden in the UAE. It is not the truth; however, it is restricted to Muslim families only.

• Unaware About Fostered Relationships

Many families do not know that fostering could be an option where you do not have to legally claim your parenthood or alter the identity of the child and still support and do the upbringing of the child.

However, the only challenge in fostering is monitoring a child’s upbringing. Once the child is sent home with the family, the organization has to oversee the child’s productivity and well-being.

The legal process for child adoption is difficult to handle unless you do not have a lawyer. Therefore, you must hire a lawyer in the UAE and understand the process of child adoption with the help of your legal consultant. However, sometimes, the family goes through an emotional roller coaster while developing close relations with their foster child.

The UAE government and charitable organizations support foster families through finance, educational support, and healthcare services. The government ensures that children do not suffer in their personal and physical development. Therefore, it provides monetary support to the foster families and even conducts counseling sessions to build a bond between the child and their foster family.

The UAE has embraced technological changes since its development in the business environment. Through online applications, you can fill in the details for child adoption by visiting verified websites. Various digital campaigns are running online in the UAE, ensuring that fostering is a good opportunity to get into parenthood and helpful to children in welfare organizations. Families can also get online counseling services where they can be guided about fostering relationships with their children.

It isn’t easy to sensitize people about fostering and child adoption options, especially when they have religious values opposite to theirs. However, extensive awareness campaigns in the UAE can help individuals understand the laws and ways in which fostering would benefit the vulnerable children in those orphanages. A simple application process encourages more families to participate in supporting orphans. The UAE government must make international partnerships with child welfare organizations, ensuring that fostering is legally permitted in the UAE.

Though child adoption is not permitted in the UAE, one can apply as a foster parent or a guardian to support the vulnerable child or children. The process of fostering is simplified online on various websites.

However, you should consult a lawyer in the UAE who can guide you about the legal aspects of fostering relations. Consequently, you can get training and counselling sessions to develop the emotional bond between you and the child. The UAE ensures that every child is protected under WADEEMA LAW. Therefore, background checks and follow-ups are made with the fostering families.

Legal Content or blogs information, can be different than latest rules. Therefore readers can find the mistakes or can also find the content outdated. The legal content is research based, conducted by humans, as individual and private entity, therefore no liability is taken. We suggest, when it comes to build up a mind or seeking for some help, kindly first consult the expert attorneys. We have the top lawyers and legal consultants, and we can provide you a best legal advice and services.