Child Fostering Services for Expats in the UAE
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Child fostering in the UAE is the act of providing a safe and caring household to a child with no known parents. This system, or Kafala under the UAE law, is specifically aimed at protecting the child and ensuring that the child is nurtured in a healthy family environment. It does not amount to adoption as the child must retain his or her name and religion.
At HHS Lawyers, our family lawyer we can offer you assistance in:
- Explaining Fostering Rules in Layman’s Terms
- Document preparation and verification
- Assisting you with steps and procedural requirements of the Ministry of Community Development (MoCD)
- Checking foster care agreements to comply with UAE laws
- Accompanying you during interviews, home visits, and follow‑up visits.
What is Child Fostering in UAE?
Child fostering, often referred to in the context of “Kafala”, is a system where a resident family takes a child into their home to provide full care, support, and education. In the UAE, child fostering applies only to children who do not have known parents. The law makes sure these children receive a safe home, proper care, and the same quality of life as any other child.
It is important to note that Fostering is a type of legal guardianship, not adoption. The child does not take the family’s name and does not automatically receive inheritance rights.
New UAE Fostering Law for Expats
Child Fostering in the UAE is governed under the Federal Decree Law No. 12 of 2025. The law protects the child’s best interests and allows more people to give safe and stable foster care. The regulations apply to all residents of the UAE including expatriates and local citizens.
Key Points You Should Know
- Expats Can Foster Children in the UAE: Expats living legally in the UAE can apply for foster care. It is not only for Emiratis.
- Fostering Is Open to All Religions: Families from any religion can apply to foster a child. The UAE fostering law does not stop anyone because of their faith.
- Single Women Can Apply to Foster: Single, divorced, or widowed women of any nationality can become foster mothers (subject to certain requirements). Marriage is not necessary.
- Corrective Plans for Minor Mistakes: If a foster family makes a small mistake, authorities may give a corrective plan. The child is not removed for minor issues.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility for Expats
To make sure every child goes to a safe home, the Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) and local authorities like the Community Development Authority (CDA) Dubai have clear rules.
For Married Expat Couples:
- Residency: Both are required to be residing in the UAE and have a valid residency.
- Age: Both parties need to be at least 25 years old in age.
- Stability: You should show you have a good home for the child and a stable marriage.
- No Criminal Record: Both parties must produce a Good Conduct Certificate showing no crimes regarding honor and trust.
- Health: You must be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders that poses risk to the child
For Single Expat Women:
- Status: You can be single, widowed, or divorced.
- Age: To be eligible, you need to be thirty (30) years or older.
- Financial Ability: You must show you can support yourself and the child.
- Residency: You need to have a valid residency visa for the United Arab Emirates and actually live in the UAE.
Importance of Legal Child Fostering in the UAE
Legal Identity and Rights
Legal fostering provides the child with an Emirates ID card and a birth certificate. This allows the child to attend school, visit a doctor, and travel like any other child in the family.
Guaranteed Safety
Background checks and home visits are done by the government. Thus, it is ensured that every child lives in a safe and caring home.
More Families Can Help
The law also permits expats and single women over 30 years to foster. Therefore, the children who speak a particular language or come from a certain culture will have a higher chance of finding their foster family.
Respecting the Child’s Roots
Fostering in the UAE (Kafala) also retains the child’s original name and religion. Families should not interfere or disrespect the child’s fostering traditions.
Stability for the Future
Legal fostering gives families a clear path which provides them with both stability and security. The government uses “corrective plans” to adjust the small problems instead of removing the child, and it helps the home to be stable and happy.
Required Documents for Fostering
- Passports and Emirates IDs: For both spouses (if applicable).
- Salary Certificate: To certify income and financial security.
- Health Certificates: A government-approved medical center.
- Police Clearance Certificate: Sometimes known as a Good Conduct Certificate.
- Home Documentation: A tenancy contract or a title deed to prove that the child will have a safe place to sleep.
- Written Pledge: A written promise signed that you will respect the original identity and religious background of the child.
The Fostering Process in the UAE
Fostering takes time because the government must be sure the child will be safe and cared for.
Step 1: Initial Application
You send your application to the MoCD or the CDA in Dubai. Lawyers can help you fill in the forms correctly so nothing is missed.
Step 2: Background Checks and Interviews
Social workers will interview you. They want to understand who you are and why you want to foster a child.
Step 3: Home Study and Interviews
Social workers from the CDA or MoCD will visit your home. They are not looking for luxury — but only a safe, clean, and stable place for a child. They will also interview you to understand why you want to foster and if you are emotionally ready to care for a child.
Step 4: Approval by the Committee
Your full file is sent to the Custodial Families Committee. This group of experts reviews your documents and the social worker’s report. If they believe you are a good match, they will give you official approval to foster.
Step 5: Trial Period
The child stays with you for about Six (6) months. During this time, social workers visit to see how you and the child are adjusting and if everything is going well.
Protecting the Child’s Identity
Under UAE law, you must respect the child’s background. You cannot change the child’s last name to your family name. You must not change the child’s official religion or identity.
The purpose is to give the child a loving family while keeping their own history and roots safe.
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 dependent 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.
Note: Actual processing times can vary. Please check with MoCD or CDA for the latest updates or seek legal advice.
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?
Fostering a child is a beautiful decision but the legal steps are confusing. The HHS Lawyers and Legal Consultants serve as your partner during this process. We take on the “legal jargon” so that you can focus on getting your home ready for a child.
Our Fostering Services Include but not limited to:
- Eligibility Consultation: We consider your particular case (job, age, level of residency) and provide a truthful opinion on whether you are eligible under the law or not.
- Documentation: We provide assistance in collecting, translating, and attesting all necessary documents from appropriate authorities.
- Liaising with Authorities: Communication is made with the MoCD, CDA and the Courts on the client’s behalf to follow up his application.
- Legal Advice on Wills: Since foster children are not automatic inheritors, we can help write a DIFC Will or a UAE Will to ensure the child is financially protected in future.
- Corrective Support: If the authorities request you to make certain changes to your home or lifestyle to meet the fostering standards, then we advise you on how to do it.
Important Things to Remember
- Fostering is Not Adoption: Fostering does not change the child’s legal family line.
- Best Interests of the Child: This is the most important rule. Every decision is made based on what is best for the child.
- Financial Capability: You do not need to be rich. You only need to show you have a steady income to provide a good life, including schooling, healthcare, and food.
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.
Can non-Muslim expats foster a child in the UAE?
Yes. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 12 of 2025, people of any religion can foster, if they meet the age, residency and financial rules.
Is fostering the same as adoption in the UAE?
No. Fostering is legal custody, not adoption. The child still carries their original family name and is legally identified as the same person. Foster parents do not act as legal parents of the child and do not affect inheritance rights.
Can a single man foster a child?
No. The current law allowed married couples and single women who are 30 years old or older. Single men are not eligible.
What if I want to leave the UAE with a foster child?
You have to get special permission from the authorities and the Ministry. The applicant must also prove that the relocation will be good for the child.
Can I foster a child if I have my own biological children?
Yes. Having biological children does not stop one from fostering. Fostering authorities will inspect whether there is adequate space and resources for one more child in your home.
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.
Contact HHS Lawyers Today
If you are an expat living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other Emirate and you want to welcome a child into your home, we are here to support you. Our family lawyers use a human‑centric approach, making sure you feel guided, informed, and cared for at every step of the fostering process.
