Dubai Approves Child Protection Protocol To Ensure Support From Birth To Youth

The protocol addresses all stages of a child's development, from prenatal care and birth registration to school-age support, youth development, and pre-marital counselling. It aims to establish a seamless, well-governed framework for child protection, ensuring coordinated efforts among key government entities, including Dubai Police, the Community Development Authority, Dubai Public Prosecution, Dubai Courts, and various specialized teams.

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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, stated, "This new set of initiatives reflects our unwavering commitment to building an inclusive, resilient, and future-ready society," while approving a series of measures aimed at enhancing social development benchmarks, improving quality of life, and advancing digitalisation efforts across Dubai.

In January, the UAE introduced new family la modernising legal frameworks and enhancing the protection of children and families. The legislation introduces significant amendments to child custody arrangements, financial rights, and educational guardianship.

These changes reflect a stronger focus on the welfare of children while respecting their growing independence as they mature. Under the new provisions, children at the age of 15 are allowed to choose which parent they wish to live with, as long as the court deems their choice to be in their best interests.

For cases involving children with severe medical or psychological conditions, custody will remain with the mother unless the court finds that an alternative arrangement better serves the child.