The Community Development Authority (CDA) of Dubai drafted a child protection policy aiming to protect children, investigate abuses against their rights, and provide government services to families and children believed to be in danger.
This policy sought to protect not only children residing in the Emirate, but even children just passing through.
Sharjah was the first emirate to address child abuse, but Dubai quickly followed suit. The CDA set out multiple goals in getting the policy to become a federal law. It sought to promote awareness of children's rights, prevent the mistreatment of children, and develop an inclusive and integrated system that deals with cases of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.
In 2016, in furtherance of this policy and after much deliberation on the matter, a federal child protection law was enacted, known as Wadeema’s Law, which now serves as the framework for a new child protection system. Wadeema’s Law is an extremely comprehensive piece of legislation covering almost all aspects of child protection and child rights and prescribes harsh penalties for those found in violation of its provisions.
Legal Update:
The above information might not apply if both parties are non-muslim. Starting from the 1st of February 2023, UAE issued specific family law to be applied between non-muslim expatriate residents in case none of them wanted to apply his/her home country's law in the UAE. To know more information about this law, please feel free to click this link.
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About the Author
Dr. Hassan Elhais publishes analysis of UAE family law matters, including child protection, family relationships and legal safeguards for children. For readers researching family lawyers in Dubai, his writing offers insight into the legal questions surrounding these topics. Explore his published work and practice-area information for further context.
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