Step by Step Procedures for Child Adoption in the UAE

The UAE adoption is a good option to consider for parenthood but the process is not simple. In addition, many people have found in the Emirates to have the family they wanted. Thus, from a single mother to a couple, they will be able to find a viable option as long as they meet the requirements.

In this article, you can learn how to adopt a child in UAE or receive advice on the subject. Furthermore, to be successful, you will have to know all the aspects to take into account when adopting a child.

1. Can Non-Citizen Adopt a Child in UAE?

Annually in the United Arab Emirates, there are a large number of abandoned children available for UAE adoption. Likewise, most of them are abandoned by their mothers because they are afraid of having children out of wedlock.

1.1. What happens to abandoned children in the United Arab Emirates?

The number of children abandoned by their parents in some hospitals is 3 to 6 babies a year. Then, social workers and police search for the biological parents of the child. However, if they do not find them, they will be given a temporary home in the United Arab Emirates. In addition, according to article No. 2 of the federal law, abandoned children born in the UAE may apply for citizenship and their passport.

At the same time, the law establishes that there is an abandoned child before proven the contrary. Likewise, it is common for adoptions to be outside the Emirates and not within the Emirates. Then, an expatriate may opt to child adoption in the UAE, if they comply with the laws of their country of origin.

Also, when the adopted child arrives to the country, he/she will receive the protection and rights as biological children. Similarly, the national government allows foreigners adopt a child in many circumstances. However, there is a condition for adoption, that the child has the name of his or her adopters.

For example, the child adopted in the UK can take the name of the adoptive parents. In this case, you will have the option to go to the UAE and receive residential sponsorship as an Emirati descendant. Furthermore, the laws for the adoption of children in the UAE make no difference between an adopted or biological child.

2. Process for Expatriate to Adopt a Child in UAE

The process for adoption in UAE that you must do will go through several stages. First of all, you will need to hire the services of a family lawyer in the United Arab Emirates. Likewise, these lawyers are in all the emirates and have been successful in the adoption cases they have worked on.

In addition, the lawyers will ensure that the adopted child receives their Emirati residences just like the adopting parents. Then, the authorities of the emirates will begin the adoption process, thoroughly inspecting the home of the adopter. This way, they will apply the complete psychology test including weeks of therapies.

Likewise, those in charge of the test will evaluate whether or not they will be eligible to be adoptive parents. This process for UAE adoption will take up to 10 weeks to complete including weekly therapies. Additionally, the therapies prepare parents and allow authorities to evaluate them to verify if there is any danger to the child.

In the same way, the authorities verify that adoptive parents understand the rights of the children in the laws. Therefore, the entire adoption process will be focused on benefiting the child and not the adoptive parents. After completing the previous processes, parents will obtain the psychological evaluation certificate endorsed by a certified medical.

Likewise, the family lawyer can start to prepare the process meanwhile the adoptive go through the home evaluation. When the child arrives in the Emirates, the application for residence and citizenship will be submitted in the country where the parents are from.

2.1. How to adopt a child in UAE?

If the child cannot stay with the biological parents, a couple can give a home to that child. In particular, in the Emirates, there is a considerable demand for children in need of adoption. Hence, below you will see the detailed steps for adopting a child while living in the Emirates:

1. Start the home evaluation program with HRIC.

2. Arrange the procedures and proceed to send them.

3. In the country of origin of the father, contact an adoption facilitator.

4. Travel to meet the child you hope to adopt.

5. Complete all paperwork.

6. While waiting for the court date, travel back to the country of birth of the child

7. Apply for a visa and bring the child to the UAE.

8. Apply for citizenship in the country of origin.

9. As an adoptive, from time to time report to the authorities of the country of origin until the child is 18 years old.

3. Islamic Law for Muslims to Adopt a Child

Islamic Law states that adoption is prohibited. Nevertheless, any person can give a child with paternal affection without any legal obligation such as inheritance. In contrast, the Quran specifies that there is a legal union of the child with the family that adopts him. Similarly, their biological family cannot be hidden from the child nor can the ties be broken.

Also, under the Quran, those that adopt must remember that they are not the biological parents. Additionally, there are many differences between the Islamic law and the regular laws of adoption. In the same way, to refer to adoption, they will use the term kafala which means to feed in Arabic.

This will represent the bond between an adoptive parent and the adopted child. Below, you will see the adoption law that governs these relationships:

- An adopted child will have the surnames of the biological family and will not be able to change their names to that of their adoptive family.

- The adopted child will have the inheritance of his biological parents and not that of the adopters.

- The people who make up the adoptive family will not be taken into account as blood relatives of the child. This is upon reaching the age of majority, and therefore they will not be mahram to him or her.

The term mahram means that there is a legal relationship for marriage or other parts of life. Thus, any person from the adoptive family can take the adopted person as a marriage partner. Nevertheless, there are laws applied to the child and adult regarding privacy and the members of the families that adopt them who are of the opposite sex.

4. Basic Eligibility for Adoption in the UAE

Just the desire to adopt will not be enough, it is also important to have the condition according to the law to do so. Below is a list of the variables to be eligible for UAE adoption:

- Adopters or single mothers must have the financial solvency to support the adoptee and the rest of the family members.

- Parents will have to be trained in all aspects of child care.

- Likewise, the adoptive family or single mother will have to be healthy from infectious, psychiatric, or behavioral diseases.

- The donors will have to prove their good conduct.

- If you are a single mother, to adopt you must demonstrate your willingness to do so.

- The adopting single mother must be at least 30 years old.

- And if the adopters are a couple, they will have to be at least 25 years old.

4.1. Important Considerations for UAE Adoption

Before making an adoption, consider the most important aspects that you may have to face when making the UAE adoption. Below you will be able to know these factors:

The trauma of adopted children

Adoption for a child may be traumatic depending on the circumstances, regardless of the age of the child. Likewise, there is a misconception that young children and babies will not remember the separation. Thus, it is necessary to understand the trauma of the child before deciding to adopt him/her.

In the same way, this loss, separation, or any abuse or neglect will significantly affect their mental development. Consequently, they will experience poor development that will affect their relationship with others, and even with those of their age. Also, the stress of losses in the first 8 weeks will affect your later well-being.

Ethics and privileges

UAE adoption by foreigners is fast but this does not mean that it has to be accelerated. Furthermore, many adopters have privileged positions in the country in terms of poverty, so they will be responsible for ensuring that everything benefits the child. Likewise, it is essential to carefully evaluate the situation of the child and whether adoption is the most viable.

Therefore, evaluate yourself, ask tough questions regarding ethics, and when in doubt look for evidence. In conclusion, see for yourself whether adoption is probably right or not.

The biological family of the child is part of his/her

Generally, adopters can feel uncomfortable in front of the biological relatives of the children they want to adopt. Likewise, some avoided it, others did not have time and others simply decided to connect with them to understand and learn more. Families who decide to do a UAE adoption when they are living in the Emirates generally adopt children from countries with extreme poverty.

Thus, many come malnourished and with little or no medical care. Equally, there can be many with low life expectancy and other hard problems. Many of these circumstances that children have are sometimes difficult to understand, especially if the adopter has never experienced them.

Know and experience the Community and its Culture

According to various opinions, adoptive parents need to know the culture and community of the child they are adopting. Hence, you must travel regularly with the adopted child for the hearings. However, the visits will be brief because they are only to cover specific objectives.

Thus, get a good experience of their cultures so that the children can pass them on to the children. Likewise, take time to get to know the country and bring home related objects, as well as take photographs and make friends.

The residence visa for the adopted child

The UAE adoption process has been completed, you will be able to return to the Emirates with your new family and you will be able to stay. On the other hand, the visa process may not be simple in many occasions depending on various situations. In the same way, they will depend on the emirate.

Additionally, single mothers face a stronger challenge but will still be able to process the residence visa for the adopted child. Also, look for new updates on this topic as you can often find changes. Likewise, many children will enter with a visit visa and the adoption document examined by immigration.

However, any delay in acquiring the visa will also delay health insurance for children, which is not good. This occurs because many come from very poor countries and may have health problems.

It will depend on your country of origin

Depending on the country of origin, the adoption law will vary until adoption is no longer possible. For example, the United Kingdom has its own rules for the adoption of a child. This means that there will be evaluate by a social worker to verify the eligibility of the parents for adoption. Also, the adoptive parents must attend to a court hearing.

Likewise, the country requesting citizenship will also consider the country from which the child was adopted. Consequently, the success of the process will rest on on all these aspects together. Thus, it is best if you want to adopt, seek legal advice from the country where you reside, and also have a possible plan B.

5. How Much Does Adoption Cost?

There is no specific cost for adoption in UAE due to the diversity of procedures that the family or interested person must do. In this case, it depends on the type of adoption program you want to carry out. Some of the costs associated with this process include the following:

1. Adoption Professional Fees

2. Home Study Costs

3. Legal fees

4. Travel expenses

Conclusion

The process for UAE adoption can be difficult and stressful for both the child and the adoptive parents. Also, if you are a first-timer, you may want to see a mental health counselor to help you cope. In addition, they will be able to guide you to make a good impression and have a better connection with the child during the process.

Likewise, if the child has had traumatic experiences, mental health services will be able to help. Thus, if you would like an adoption services advisor in the UAE, who can offer you this support, contact us.