Non-Emiratis Can Now Foster Children in the UAE

Non-Emirati married couples over 25 and single women over 30 can now foster children in the UAE, regardless of nationality or religion. The amendment to the law on children of unknown parentage extends fostering to non-Muslims and removes the previous upper age limit for single women. Fostering was previously limited to Emirati Muslim married couples and Emirati Muslim women between the ages of 30 and 50. Prospective foster parents must demonstrate they can financially support the child and sign an undertaking not to change the child’s identity or beliefs. If issues arise that are not considered serious, a committee will now recommend remedial steps rather than immediate removal of the child from the home. The law in the UAE distinguishes fostering from adoption: a fostered child does not gain inheritance rights and does not become part of the foster family’s lineage.