Federal Decree-Law No. (24) of 2022 Regarding Children of Unknown Parentage (family and community law)

Article (1)  
Definitions  
In the application of the provisions of this Decree -Law, the following terms and expressions 
shall have the meanings stated beside them, unless the context requires otherwise:  
State  : The United Arab Emirates.  
Ministry  : The Ministry Community Development.  
Minister  : The Minister of Community Development.  
Public Prosecution  : The federal or local Public Prosecution, as the case may be.  
Authorities 
Concerned  : The federal and local authorities concerned wit h the implementation 
of the provisions of this Decree -Law.  
Local Authorities  : Any local authority concerned with the affairs of Children of 
Unknown Parentage and caring for them in the State, each within 
the limits of its competence.  
ICP : The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port 
Security.  
Home  : Every home legally authorized to house and care for people of 
unknown parentage.  
Health Facility  : Every government facility that provides health services in the f ields  
Federal Decree- Law No. 24 of 2022 Regarding Children of Unknown Parentage  3 
 of prevention, treatment and convalescence.  
Committee  : Custodial Families Committee formed pursuant to the provisions of 
this Decree- Law 
Child  : Every person born alive and is under the age of (18) eighteen 
Gregorian years.  
Child of Unknown Parentage  : 
A person of unknown parentage who is found in the territory of the 
State, or who is born to a known mother who holds the nationality 
of the State and an unknown father, or whose lineage to his father is 
not legally established . 
Adopted Child  : Child of Unknown Parentage under the custody of the Custodial 
Family.  
Custody  : Caring for and preserving Children of Unknown Parentage, as 
well as providing for their upbringing and care.  
Custodial Family  : The family to whom custody is entrusted, in accordance with the 
provisions of this Decree -Law, for the purposes of raising the 
Adopted Child in a sound upbringing and providing them with a decent life.  
Custody Period  
 : The period during which the Child of Unknown Parentage is in the care of the Home. It spans from the time they are received until they reach the age of majority.  
Competent Social Researcher  : The employee in the Ministry or the Local Authority entrusted with studying and following up on the affairs of the Adopted 
Child.  
Executive Regulations  : The executive regulations issued in implementation of the 
provisions of this Decree -Law.

Article (2)   
Federal Decree- Law No. 24 of 2022 Regarding Children of Unknown Parentage  4 
 Objectives of this Decree- Law  
This Decree -Law aims to regulate the care and Custody of Children of Unknown Parentage 
by achieving the following:  
1. Providing them with all necessary support in terms of health, psychological, social, 
educational and recreational aspects.  
2. Creating and ensuring the living conditions necessary for their normal growth and their 
upbringing.  
3. Protecting the Children of Unknown Parentage from abuse, inhumane treatment and 
neglect, and giving them a sound social upbringing.

Article (3) 
 Controls and Procedures fo r Finding a Child of Unknown Parentage  
1. Whoever finds a Child of Unknown Parentage shall communicate the same to the police station.  
2. The police station shall ensure that the Child of Unknown Parentage is transported directly to the nearest Health Facility and shall notify the Public Prosecution and the ICP of 
the same within (24) twenty -four hours of receiving the said communication.  
3. The police station shall file a report with the circumstances and conditions in which the 
Child of Unknown Parentage was found, stating the place, date and time of finding them, 
their gender, the condition in which they were found, their description, the distinguishing 
marks they may have, a description of their clothes and the things that we re found with 
them, and an accurate description of the person who found them. The said report shall be sent to the Public Prosecution.  
4. The Health Facility shall conduct a medical examination on the Child of Unknown Parentage, provide them with the neces sary care, and submit a report thereon to the Public 
Prosecution.   
Federal Decree- Law No. 24 of 2022 Regarding Children of Unknown Parentage  5 
 5. The Public Prosecution shall conduct the necessary investigations into the incident of 
finding the Child of Unknown Parentage and submit a detailed statement regarding their 
attribution t o the Ministry or the Local Authority within a period not exceeding (6) six 
months from the date of notification from the police station.  
6 . The Executive Regulations shall specify the procedures that the authorities referred to in 
this Article are requir ed to take.

Article (4)  
Reception and Accommodation Conditions  
The Ministry and the Local Authority shall provide shelters for Children of Unknown 
Parentage, and the following is required to receive and accommodate the Child at the 
Ministry or the Local Authority:  
1. The Child of Unknown Parentage has been referred by a decision issued by the Public 
Prosecution.  
2. The Child of Unknown Parentage is free from communicable diseases, provided that this is proven by a medical certificate issued by the He alth Facility.  
3. Any other conditions determined by the Ministry in coordination with the Local 
Authority and other Authorities Concerned.

Article (5)  
Extracting Official Documents  
1. Based on the statement of the Public Prosecution referred to in Clause (5) of article (3) of this Decree -Law, the Ministry or the Local Authority shall coordinate with the Authorities 
Concerned to choose the full name of the Child of Unknown Parentage.  
2. Upon the request of the Ministry or the Local Authority, the competent court shall issue a  
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 certificate naming the Child of Unknown Parentage and a certificate for the Custodial 
Family, if any.  
3. The Authorities Concerned shall issue a birth certificate  for Child of Unknown Parentage 
after issuing a certificate naming them.  
4. The ICP shall take the necessary measures to issue an identity card for the Child of 
Unknown Parentage in accordance with the legislation in force in this regard.  
5. The Executive Regulations shall specify the controls for selecting the full name referred to 
in Clause (1) and the procedures for issuing official documents referred to in Clauses (2) and 
(3) of this Article.

Article (6)  
Obligations of the Local Authority  
The Ministr y or Local Authority, as the case may be, shall comply with the following:  
It shall:  
1. Receive and shelter the Child of Unknown Parentage after fulfilling the conditions stipulated in article (4) of this Decree -Law.  
2. Take the necessary measures regarding the issuance of official documents of the Child of 
Unknown Parentage.  
3. Take the necessary measures to secure Custodial Families of the Child of Unknown 
Parentage and follow them up.  
4. Provide the Ministry and th e Authorities Concerned with data, information and reports 
on Children of Unknown Parentage, whether they are residents of the Home or with 
Custodial Families.  
5. Provide the Ministry with periodic reports that include information related to any case of neglect, abuse, or violence to which the Child of Unknown Parentage may have been exposed in the Home or in the Custodial Family, and the measures taken in this regard,  
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 as determined by the Executive Regulations.  
6. Prepare the necessary programmes to ed ucate community members in general and 
Custodial Families in particular about the category of Children of Unknown Parentage 
and everything related to their rights referred to in this Decree -Law.  
7. Preserve the funds of Children of Unknown Parentage, in coordination with the 
Authorities Concerned, and take all necessary measures for that in a manner that achieves their interests.  
8. Provide the following services to Children of Unknown Parentage, in coordination with 
the Authorities Concerned:  
a. Necessary living services such as food, clothing and housing;  
b. Social, health, psychological and cultural care in proportion to their different ages;  
c. Promoting national identity, consolidating belonging to the State, and inculcating human values, prin ciples, and noble morals;  
d. Providing public and university education in accordance with the legislation in force;  
e. Developing creative, artistic and intellectual capabilities and skills and investing 
them in refining their personalities; and  
f. Integrating them into sports and cultural centres and clubs and providing them with 
appropriate activities.

Article (7)  
Custodial Families Committee 
1. In the Ministry or the Local Authority, as the case may be, there shall be established a Committee cal led the Custodial Families Committee. Its formation and work system shall be  
determined by a decision of the Minister or the head of the Local Authority.  
2. The said Committee shall be concerned with the following:  
a. Examining the applications submitted to the Ministry or the Local Authority by families 
wishing to provide Custody for a Child of Unknown Parentage, and ensuring that such  
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 applicant families meet the conditions stipulated in article (9) of this Decree -Law;  
b. Issuing a decision to hand over the Child of Unknown Parentage to the Custodial Family 
for a period not exceeding (6) six months. The Committee may extend such period for a 
similar period based on periodic follow -up reports. If it becomes clear that the said 
family is eligible for Custody of the Child of Unknown Parentage, then the Committee 
shall raise its recommendation to the Ministry or the Local Authority, as the case may be, 
to proceed with the procedures for issuing a certificate for the Custod ial Family;  
c. Deciding on the Adopted Child in the event of the death of either of the spouses in the 
Custodial Family or their separation and considering whether one of them will continue 
the Custodial effort or not, or granting any of the members or r elatives of the Custodial 
Family the right of Custody based on their request in accordance with the conditions referred to in this Decree -Law and the decisions issued in implementation thereof;  
d. Studying the reports referred to it by the Competent Social Researcher and taking the necessary decisions in the best interest of the Adopted Child; and  
e. Any other functions assigned to it by the Ministry or the Local Authority.

Article (8)  
Custody Request  
1. The family w ishing to provide Custody for a Child of Unknown Parentage must submit an 
application to the Ministry or the Local Authority, accompanied by documents supporting the validity of the data contained in the application.  
2. It is stipulated that the applicatio n referred to in Clause (1) of this Article be limited to 
Custody of one Child of Unknown Parentage.  
3. The Executive Regulations hereof shall specify the data and documents that must be included in the application referred to in Clause (1) of this Article  and the cases in which a  
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 family may be granted Custody of more than one Child of Unknown Parentage.

Article (9)  
Custodial Families Conditions  
1. A family may be granted the right of Custody of a Child of Unknown Parentage if it meets 
the following requirements:  
a. The applicant spouses in the family must be Muslims who enjoy the nationality of the 
State and reside therein, and neither of them is less than (25) twenty -five Gregorian 
years old;  
b. None of the applicant spouses have been previously con victed of any crime against 
honour or trust, even if they have been rehabilitated;  
c. The applicant spouses are free from communicable and psychological diseases and mental disorders that affect the health and safety of the Child  of Unknown Parentage in 
Custody, provided that this is proven by medical reports issued by a Health Facility;  
d. The applicant family can afford to financially support its members and the Adopted 
Child in accordance with the controls specified by the Ex ecutive Regulations; and  
e. Any other conditions determined by the Ministry in coordination with the Local Authorities.  
2. As an exception to Paragraph (a) of Clause (1) of this Article, and taking into account the 
other conditions referred to in the same Clause, the Committee may recommend granting Custody of a Child of Unknown Parentage in the following cases:  
a. If any of the spouses in the family holds the nationality of the State.  
b. If the Custody applicant is a woman who holds the nationality of the State, a Muslim, 
who is not married, is divorced, or widowed, or whose husband is absent, provided that 
her age is not less than (30) thirty Gregorian years and not more than (50) fifty Gregorian years. The provisions that apply to the Custo dial Family shall apply to such applicant in 
accordance with the controls specified by the Executive Regulations.   
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Article (10) 
 Custodial Family's Obligations  
The Custodial Family is responsible to the following:  
1. Providing all forms of social care that would raise the Child of Unknown Parentage in a 
sound family upbringing, giving them a good upbringing, and taking care of their health, education, protection, and development in all their life stages;  
2. Preservin g the funds of the Adopted Child according to the guardianship issued by the 
competent court;  
3. Disclosure to the Adopted Child of the Adopted Child's social status, in coordination with the Ministry or the Local Authority, in accordance with the contro ls specified by the 
Executive Regulations;  
4. Notifying the Ministry or the Local Authority of any changes that occur to the family's social status, such as divorce or death, in addition to changes related to its place of residence;  
5. Submitting a med ical report on the health status of the Adopted Child, issued by a Health 
Facility, at the request of the Ministry or the Local Authority;  
6. Facilitating the Competent Social Researcher's access into the house, meeting the 
Adopted Child, and familiarizing themselves with the Adopted Child's condition;  
7. Obtaining prior approval from the Ministry or the Local Authority in the event that the 
family is forced to hand over the Adopted Child for a temporary period to another family in accordance with the c ontrols specified by the Executive Regulations;  
8. Notifying the Ministry or the Local Authority of the family's desire to return the Adopted 
Child within a period of no less than (30) thirty days, in accordance with the procedures 
specified by the Execu tive Regulations; and  
9. Any other obligations determined by the Ministry or the Local Authority.  
   
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Article (11) 
 Custodial Family's Breach of its Obligations  
If the Custodial Family breaches any of its obligations referred to in article (10) of this 
Decree- Law, and such breach results in inflicting harm to the Adopted Child, then the 
Committee, based on the report of the Competent Social Researcher, shall issue its decision to withdraw the Adop ted Child without the family having the right to object to the same.

Article (12) 
 Expiration of Custody Period  
1. The Custody period of a Child of Unknown Parentage ends in the following two cases:  
a. The Child of Unknown Parentage's lineage is proven  by a final court ruling; or  
b. The Child of Unknown Parentage reaches the age of majority.  
2. As an exception to Paragraph (b) of Clause (1) of this Article, it is permissible, based on a 
decision of the  Minister or the head of the Local Authority, to extend the Custody period 
based on the report of the Competent Social Researcher and in accordance with the controls 
and standards specified by the Executive Regulations.

Article (13) 
 Termination of Custo dy 
1. Custody of the Custodial Family for Children of Unknown Parentage is terminated in the 
following cases:  
a. The Child of Unknown Parentage's lineage is proven by a final court ruling;  
b. The death of either spouse in the Custodial Family or their separation and the absence of individuals or relatives of the Custodial Family who fulfill the conditions of Custody;   
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 c. The issuance of a conclusive court ruling against either spouse in any of the crimes of 
honour or any other crime that the Committee considers that the interest of the Adopted 
Child requires the termination of Custody;  
d. Inflicting harm to the Child of Unknown Parentage;  
e. Evidence of the family's inability to provide social care of the Child of Unknown 
Parentage;  
f. The absence of the custodian is an absence that affects the good care and upbringing of 
the Child of Unknown Parentage in Custody;  
g. At the request of the Custodial Family, in accordance with the controls specified by the 
Executive Regulations;  
h. Failure to satisfy any of the conditions stipulated in article (9) of this Decree -Law; or  
i. Any other case decided by the Committee based on a report issued by the Competent 
Social Researcher.  
2. The Custody of the Custodial Family of Children of Unknown P arentage shall be 
terminated in the cases referred to in Paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of Clause (1) of this Article 
by a decision of the Committee based on a report from the Competent Social Researcher.

Article (14)  
Custody of the Child of a Known Mother  and Unknown Father  
1. In the event that the Child is of a known mother who holds the nationality of the State and 
of an unknown father, or if their parentage is not legally proven, Custody shall be 
established for the mother.  
2. If it appears that the mot her is incompetent to take over Custody, or that the Child of 
Unknown Parentage's stay with her poses a threat to the Child's safety or the Child's or her 
own life, or if there are realistic circumstances that require the Child of Unknown Parentage 
not to stay with her, then the Committee must submit a recommendation to the Ministry or 
the Local Authority to apply to the competent court regarding a decision on Custody.   
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Article (15)  
Guardianship or Custodianship of a Child of Unknown Parentage  
1. The prov isions of guardianship or custodianship stipulated in the legislation in force apply 
to Children of Unknown Parentage.  
2. At the request of the Ministry or the Local Authority, the competent court may grant either 
of them or the Custodial Family guardiansh ip or custodianship over the Child of Unknown 
Parentage.

Article (16)  
Voluntary Custody 
Custody is considered a voluntary work that takes place without charge. The Custodial Family shall not claim from the Adop ted Child, the Ministry or the Authority concerned any 
expenses spent on the Adopted Child during the custody period.

Article (17) 
Financial Support  
1. The financial support of the Child of Unknown Parentage shall be from their money, if any. If the Child of Unknown Parentage has no money and no one donated money to spend 
on the Child of Unknown Parentage, the financial support of the Child of Unknown 
Parentage shall be borne by the State.  
2. A decision issued by the Council of Ministers based on the proposal of the Minister shall  
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 determine the controls for disbursing the financial support referred to in Clause (1) of this 
Article.

Article (18) 
 Benef its of Custodial Employee  
The Council of Ministers or the competent Local Authority, based on the proposal of the Minister or the head of the competent authority, and after coordination with the Authorities 
Concerned, shall determine the benefits that are granted to the employee, working in the 
government sector, who offers Custody for a Child of Unknown Parentage in accordance 
with the provisions of this Decree -Law, and in accordance with the legislation in force in this 
regard.

Article (19) 
Competent So cial Researcher  
1. The Competent Social Researcher shall:  
a. 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;  
b. Prepare a report on the social, health and educational status of the Adopted Child and 
the extent to which the Custodial Family fulfills its obligations towards the Adopted 
Child;  
c. Intervene to correct the behaviour of the Adopted Child in the event that evidence or 
signs of delinquency appear on them, and take the necessary measures for that;  
d. Maintain strict confidentiality of data and information related to the Adopted Child and not disclose it to any non -concerned party; and  
e. Any other obligations assigned to the Competent Social Researcher by the Ministry or  
Federal Decree- Law No. 24 of 2022 Regarding Children of Unknown Parentage  15 
 Local Authority.  
2. The Executive Regulations shall specify the controls for visits, preparation of reports, and 
procedures for following up the Adopted Child.

Article (20)  
Creating an Electronic Register  
1. An elec tronic register shall be established at the Ministry in which all data, information 
and statistics relating to the Child of Unknown Parentage and any changes or updates thereto shall be recorded.  
2. The Local Authorities and other Authorities Concerned shall link and share data, information and statistics referred to in Clause (1) of this Article with each other, as well as 
any change or update thereof.  
3. The Executive Regulations shall determine the data and information that must be entered 
in the registe r, the criteria for obtaining an extract from it, and the data that the extract may 
contain.  
4. Everything recorded in the register is confidential and may not be viewed except by 
specialists and for work purposes or based on a request from the judicial authority.

Article (21)  
Penalty for Failure to Report to the Police Station  
Whoever violates the provisions of Clause (1) of article (3) of this Decree -Law shall be 
punished by imprisonment and/or a fine of not less than (10,000) ten thousand dirhams but 
not exceeding (100,000) one hundred thousand dirhams.  
   
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Article (22)  
Penalty of Preventing the Competent Social Researcher from Performing 
their Duties  
Whoever prevents the Competent Social Researcher from carrying out their duties or 
impedes them fro m carrying out their work shall be punished by a fine not less than (5,000) 
five thousand dirhams but not exceeding (50,000) fifty thousand dirhams.

Article (23)  
Penalty for Handing Over an Adopted Child without the Approval of the 
Ministry or the Loc al Authority  
Shall be punished by imprisonment and/or a fine of no less than (50,000) fifty thousand 
dirhams whoever:  
1. Has been appointed as a Custodian a Child of Unknown Parentage and permanently handed them over to another family without the approval of the Ministry or the Local 
Authority; or  
2. Has received a Child of Unknown Parentage from the Custodial Family witho ut 
informing the police station within (24) twenty -four hours of receiving the Child of 
Unknown Parentage.

Article (24)  
Penalty for Refusing to Hand Over an Adopted Child  
Shall be punished by imprisonment and/or a fine of no less than (50,000) fifty tho usand  
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 dirhams any member of the Custodial Family if such member refuses to hand over the 
Adopted Child to the Ministry or the Local Authority in implementation of the Committee's 
decision to withdraw the Adopted Child from it.

Article (25)  
Imposing a Mo re Severe Penalty Stipulated in Another Law  
Imposing the penalties stipulated in this Decree Law shall not prejudice imposing any 
severer penalty stipulated in any other law.

Article (26)  
Executive Regulations  
Based on the Minister's proposal, and after coordination with the Local and Authorities 
Concerned, the Council of Ministers shall issue the Executive Regulations for this 
Decree- Law within (6) six months from the date of its publication in the Official Gaz ette.

Article (27)  
Executive Decisions  
The Minister or the head of the Local Authority, each within the limits of their competence, 
shall issue the necessary decisions to implement the provisions of this Decree -Law.

Article (28)  
Repealing  
1. Federal Law No. (1) of 2012 Concerning the Custody of Children of Unknown Parentage  
Federal Decree- Law No. 24 of 2022 Regarding Children of Unknown Parentage  18 
 is hereby repealed, so shall be any provision that contradicts or conflicts with the provisions 
of this Decree -Law.  
2. The regulations and decisions in force upon the issuance of t his Decree -Law shall 
continue to be enforced in a manner that does not conflict with the provisions hereof pending the issuance of the Executive Regulations and decisions implementing hereto.

Article (29)  
Publication and Effective Date  
This Decree -Law shall be published in the Official Gazette, and shall come into force as of 
January 2, 2023.  
  
 
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan  
President of the United Arab Emirates  
 
Issued by us at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi  on: 
 30th Safar, 1444 A H 
Corresponding to: 26th September, 2022 AD