The UAE has enacted Federal Decree-Law No. 12 of 2025, revolutionising its child-fostering regime and giving thousands of expatriate families the right to provide long-term care to children of unknown parentage. Published on 26 November, the amendments scrap the Emirati-only restriction that had been in place since 2012 and extend eligibility to married couples of any nationality as well as single women aged 30 and above.
Although fostering is distinct from adoption under Islamic law—the child does not take the family name or inherit property—the reform is a major quality-of-life win for foreign residents who previously had limited legal avenues to build a family in the Emirates. Candidates must show clean criminal records, pass medical checks and prove financial capacity, but there is no religious requirement and no upper age ceiling for single applicants.
![UAE opens foster-care system to expatriates and single women under new decree]()
For global-mobility managers the change reduces one of the soft barriers that sometimes deter senior female talent from accepting UAE postings. Executives who have considered international adoption can now explore a local fostering pathway without jeopardising residence-visa status. Companies may wish to update relocation handbooks to reflect the legal distinction between fostering and adoption and to detail the approval timeline, which authorities say will average three months once supporting documents are in order.
The decree also strengthens oversight: multidisciplinary committees must vet applicants and can recommend corrective action rather than immediate child removal for minor infractions, ensuring stability for the child. Authorities will issue standardised Emirates ID cards for foster children, simplifying school enrolment and health-insurance coverage.
Overall, the policy aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to become a more inclusive, family-friendly destination for global talent, complementing long-term visas and flexible work permits rolled out in recent years.
Although fostering is distinct from adoption under Islamic law—the child does not take the family name or inherit property—the reform is a major quality-of-life win for foreign residents who previously had limited legal avenues to build a family in the Emirates. Candidates must show clean criminal records, pass medical checks and prove financial capacity, but there is no religious requirement and no upper age ceiling for single applicants.
For global-mobility managers the change reduces one of the soft barriers that sometimes deter senior female talent from accepting UAE postings. Executives who have considered international adoption can now explore a local fostering pathway without jeopardising residence-visa status. Companies may wish to update relocation handbooks to reflect the legal distinction between fostering and adoption and to detail the approval timeline, which authorities say will average three months once supporting documents are in order.
The decree also strengthens oversight: multidisciplinary committees must vet applicants and can recommend corrective action rather than immediate child removal for minor infractions, ensuring stability for the child. Authorities will issue standardised Emirates ID cards for foster children, simplifying school enrolment and health-insurance coverage.
Overall, the policy aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to become a more inclusive, family-friendly destination for global talent, complementing long-term visas and flexible work permits rolled out in recent years.
