UAE law protects children from discrimination and abuse as well as bans child labour | The Law Reporters

Providing education, good health, and other facilities to children is a top priority in the UAE to protect their rights.

A new law concerning children's rights was introduced in the UAE in 2016, known as Federal Law No. 3. "The Wadeema Law", formerly the UAE Child Rights Law, protect children from abuse and neglect as well as supports their rights to shelter, food, education and medical care.

Children residing in the UAE, as well as children of expats, are covered by the law, which outlines their legal rights and offers protection from abuse ranging from physical abuse to verbal abuse.

Children are prohibited from working and selling tobacco to people under 18 years of age. They are also protected in the event of abandonment by parents or guardians.

Further, it protects all children's rights to education and citizenship, access to health care and equal opportunities in all essential facilities, as well as prohibits children's use in any form of pornography.

Smoking is prohibited in public and private vehicles, as well as indoor areas where children are present. Violations of the law can result in severe penalties.

If a child is in imminent danger, childcare specialists are allowed to remove them from their homes despite parental wishes and without court approval.

Specialized practitioners may grant social services to the child, and mediate a solution between the family and the child if the situation is less severe.

Anyone who puts children in danger, harms, abandons them, neglects them, leaves them unsupervised, doesn't register them upon their birth, or puts them in danger will be subject to a jail sentence, a fine, or both.

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