Child Fostering Services for Expats in the UAE
Providing a safe and stable foster home for a child is one of the most meaningful acts anyone can offer. For many years, expatriates in the UAE had limited options to foster children of unknown parentage. With Federal Decree–Law No. 12 of 2025 (the ‘new Decree’), the UAE has amended Federal Decree–Law No. 24 of 2022. It has expanded the UAE foster care eligibility so non–Emirati married couples (expats) and single women can now provide foster care for children of unknown parentage and children under care.
At HHS Lawyers, our experienced family lawyer for child fostering in Dubai helps you understand and meet every requirement of the updated UAE fostering law for expats. We are here to guide you through the entire process with clarity and care, including:
- assessing your eligibility,
- preparing the required documents,
- coordinating with relevant authorities, and
- even representing you before the courts.
We aim to make the UAE foster care process simple and clear so you can focus on building your future family.
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What is the New 2025 UAE Fostering Law?
The new decree brings a major change to the UAE’s social care system. This UAE law applies specifically to children of unknown parentage, which has been a protected group by the UAE’s social care system. These children are usually placed under the foster child legal guardianship UAE and require stable environments.
Key Changes for Expats:
- Nationality & Religion: Any married couple, including non–Emirati couples, regardless of nationality or religion — can now apply for foster care (as long as they meet the eligibility criteria).
- Expats Can Apply: Both married expat couples and single women in the UAE can now legally foster a child.
- Provide Legal Identity: The law enables each and every child to have a legal identity and Emirates ID, making school admission and healthcare access for foster parents in the UAE easy.
UAE Foster Care Eligibility: Are You Eligible to Foster
To guarantee safety and wellness for foster kids in the country, the Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) and the Community Development Authority (CDA) have outlined specific criteria for applicants interested in how to foster a child in the UAE.
For Married Couple
- Residency: Both husband and wife should be valid residents of the UAE.
- Age and Application requirement: application must be jointly submitted by both spouses and that each must have completed 25 years of age.
- Environment: You need to be staying together and having a calm, stable foster home environment.
For Single Women
- Residency: Should be a valid resident of the UAE.
- Status: To be single, widowed, or divorced.
- Age: Must have completed 30 years of age.
- Financial stability: financially capable of supporting herself and the foster child.
General Requirements for All Applicants:
- Integrity: A clean criminal record (Good Conduct Certificate) and has no convictions involving honour or trust.
- Health: Proof that you are not suffering from infectious or serious psychological conditions.
- Finance: Proof of financial capability to provide for the child.
Pledge: An undertaking in writing to respect the identity and religion of the child.
Our Comprehensive Fostering Legal Services
As one of the leading UAE family law firms, we don’t just give legal advice — we guide you through the entire process. Our UAE family law services function as a complete solution which helps expats who want to become foster parents to achieve their goal.
- Eligibility Assessment & Consultation
Before you apply, we carefully review your UAE foster care eligibility. We will verify your residential status, your age and financial situation according to Federal Decree–Law No. 12 of 2025. This early review identifies potential delays or rejections and ensures that the “fit and proper” requirements are met.
- Document Preparation & Attestation
The UAE foster care process requires multiple official documents which need to be completed. Our team help you collect, prepare, and attest the following documents:
- Employment and salary certificates
- Medical fitness reports
- Police Clearance Certificates
- Proof of suitable housing (Tenancy Contract or Title Deed)
- Certificate of Good Conduct
- Any other required document by the authorities.
- Formal Application Submission
We submit the complete application to the Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) or the Community Development Authority (CDA). You also need to submit a written undertaking to provide stable residence to the foster child, refrain from exercising any kind of influence, and to alter the child’s identity or beliefs as provided in the official documents.
- The Social & Environmental Study
In this important stage, social researchers visit your home to assess:
- Living Standards: Is your home safe and suitable for a child?
- Family Atmosphere: How will a foster child fit into your household?
- Psychological Readiness: Are you emotionally ready to take on the challenges of fostering?
Our UAE fostering lawyers guide you so you understand exactly what authorities expect.
- The Selection & Matching Process
After approval, the Custodial Families Committee begins matching your family with a child. Their decision looks for the most suitable match that meets the child’s needs as well as your family profile. We will always follow up closely with the authorities supporting your case.
- The 6–Month Supervised Trial Period
The child will live with you during a supervised trial period of at least six (6) months after a successful match, the competent social researcher shall:
- Follow up on the Adopted Child by visiting the Custodial Family with the permission of the homeowner,
- meet with the Adopted Child, and
- Familiarize themselves with the Adopted Child’s condition
- Perform any other assigned obligations as per the new decree.
You handle the child’s daily care, schooling, and healthcare. We help with legal and administrative tasks like temporary health insurance or school permits.
- Final Court Order & Guardianship Certificate
In the event the six-month trial is successful, the committee recommends permanent placement. We represent you in the competent UAE Courts to obtain the final Fostering Order and assist you in gaining full legal authority as the foster child’s guardian, including managing their official documents and Emirates ID.
- Long–Term Compliance & Corrective Plans
The fostering law UAE for expats is very much supportive and provides for “corrective plans” in case of minor issues that may arise. We will further provide you with legal assistance to maintain your total compliance with all fostering regulations.
Documents Required for Child Fostering (CDA Dubai)
Child foster care documentation at CDA Dubai shall be in accordance with Federal Law No. 1 of 2012 and updated accordingly by Decree-law No. 24 of 2022 and Decree-law No. 12 of 2025. Submission shall be phased online as follows:
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Notes:
- As per the post 2025 eligibility, Single women applicants must submit documents themselves
- Other documents may be required, for instance, a marriage certificate.
- Before applying, it is advisable to check the CDA portal regularly for any updates.
- This list of documents is taken from the official CDA and is applicable for residents of Dubai.
- Other emirates may have different requirements. Therefore, applicants must always verify it with the concerned authority.
Timeline: How Long Does Child Fostering Take in UAE
The procedure for how to foster a child in the UAE, on an average, takes about three (3) months. But the total time taken is based upon the readiness of documents, assessments, and matching of the children. The table below shows the official time estimates given by the CDA for each step of the process.
| Stage | Main Procedures | Time Taken |
| 1 | Application Submission & Initial Contact | 15 minutes (submission) + 2 working days (contact) |
| 2 | Application Review & Approvals | 5–12 working days |
| 3 | Document Collection | 20 working days (allotted to applicant) |
| 4 | Field Assessment (Scheduling, Interview, Home Visit & Approval) | 3 working days total |
| 5 | Committee Review & Notification | 4 working days |
| 6 | Coordination with Family Village (Notification & Initial Meeting) | 1–2 working days |
| 7 | Legal Documentation & Identity Issuance (Certificates, Health Card, etc.) | 11 working days total |
| 8 | Final Handover (Interview, Agreement & Child Handover) | 2 working days |
Overall Service Duration (As per CDA)
- Date of receiving application and starting process: 2 working days.
- Full time required to complete remaining steps (processes in parallel): 37 working days.
Common Reasons Fostering Applications Are Rejected
The UAE transformed its approach from a “punitive” to a “corrective” in line with updates for 2025 and 2026. However, some grounds for rejection still apply to either application in respect to foster care, such as:
- Not fulfilling the age requirements. For e.g. If the age of the couple is less than 25 years and the age of the single mother is less than 30 years.
- No residency in the UAE or lack of financial ability to care for the foster child.
- If either or both of the parents have any criminal record or are convicted for offenses involving honor, trust, or morality.
- Either parents or both have Health issues such as suffering from any infectious diseases or mental/psychological conditions which can affect the child care abilities.
- Unsuitable conditions at foster home or failure during the home visit/assessment.
- Not providing enough information, or documents cannot be verified.
- Failure to demonstrate commitment to the child’s education, health, and general well-being during interviews or before committee.
Protecting the Future: Wills & Inheritance
Under the child guardianship laws of the UAE, fostering (Kafala) is different from adoption. A foster child does not automatically inherit their foster parents’ property. For the financial protection of your foster child, our UAE family law firm offers specialized UAE inheritance planning services:
- DIFC / Abu Dhabi Civil Wills: We draft legally binding Wills that a non-Muslim can use to leave the entire estate or part thereof to the foster child, subject to applicable laws and registration requirements.
- Gift Deeds (Hiba): If you wish to transfer property or assets to your foster child during your lifetime, we prepare all legal documentation for the transfer and register the Gift Deed in the child’s name.
Trusts & Insurance: We help families create a financial plan or insurance policy that names the foster child as the beneficiary. This makes sure money for their education and daily needs is safely protected and available for their future.
Fostering vs. Adoption: What You Need to Know
In the UAE, foster care (Kafala) is entirely different from adoption in the Western sense. Kafala is guardianship, not adoption.
Under the UAE foster care (Kafala) legal guardianship system:
- The child keeps its biological name and family identity.
- The child is not considered a legal heir under Sharia-based inheritance rules.
- The child does not automatically inherit from foster parents (but we can help you include them in a UAE Will).
- The objective in Kafala is primarily to offer the child a nurturing and stable environment while at the same time respecting the child’s identity.
Why Choose HHS Lawyers?
The most significant decision you will take in this process is selecting a family lawyer for child fostering in Dubai. HHS Lawyers, offer several child fostering services, which include:
- Faster Process: We ensure that all documents for the UAE foster care process are submitted correctly at the first time.
- Follow proper custody conditions: Under the law, if custody conditions are no longer met, or where legal obligations have been breached, the law permits the removal of the adopted child from the custodial family or woman custodian. We ensure all the required conditions are followed as per the law.
- Direct Communication: We communicate directly with the Ministry/CDA on your behalf.
- Complete Privacy & Confidentiality: We handle all cases with utmost legal discretion so as not to compromise the family or child’s personal information and history.
- Highly Specialized Knowledge: We hold specialised knowledge related to the most recent updated fostering law UAE for expats.
- Compassionate Approach: We understand that this is a personal and emotional process for you, and we treat each case with the utmost sensitivity.
- Proven Success: As one of the prominent family law firms in Dubai and the UAE, we have decades of experience in family law, guardianship, and residency matters.
Contact HHS Lawyers for a confidential consultation and personalized guidance today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. I am an expat; do I need a Family Book?
The “Family Book” (Khulasat Al Qaid) is an Emirati-specific document. Expatriates need to carry a Passport with a relevant residency visa and a Unified Number as a primary identification.
Q2. Is there a fee?
The fostering service through the CDA is free of charge.
Q3. Is full adoption possible in the UAE?
No. Full adoption is forbidden under Islamic law since fostering (Kafala) is granted to children with unknown parentage (foundlings/orphans).
Q4. Who is eligible after the amendments in 2025?
A married couple or single woman (for single 30 years or older).
Both spouses must be UAE residents (now this also includes non-Emirati married couples), regardless of nationality and religion.
Must meet certain standards with regard to health, income, and good conduct.
Q5. Can expatriates foster?
Yes, the fostering law UAE for expats, Federal Decree-Law No. 12 of 2025, has broadened the eligibility to non-Emirati residents.
Q6. Can the child inherit from the foster family?
No. Under the Kafala system, foster children do not receive automatic inheritance. However, foster parents may provide for the child through a will (for non-Muslims, civil wills in DIFC/Abu Dhabi allow leaving the entire estate; for Muslims, up to one-third of the estate under Sharia rules) or through lifetime gifts, which are fully permitted.
Disclaimer: The purpose of this page is to provide publicly reported updates regarding the UAE laws in general. It should not be construed by anyone as a substitute for legal advice. It is important to note that legal requirements are likely to change and differ based on varying situations, so for any advice specific to a person, the qualified UAE lawyer should be consulted.
