UAE Revolutionizes Parent-Friendly Reforms

The Year of the Family Approaches: Flexible Work and New Parental Rights in the UAE

The government of the United Arab Emirates has officially declared 2026 as the "Year of the Family," but family-friendly reforms have already begun nationwide. Local governments are introducing forward-thinking labor regulations and social initiatives aimed at improving work-life balance, supporting parents, and strengthening the modern family model.

Ajman HR Reform: Exemplary Support for Working Parents

Ajman Emirate has taken a pioneering role by comprehensively overhauling its human resources policies for public servants. The new regulations not only offer flexible work arrangements but also provide extensive family leave options, specifically designed to enhance the well-being of parents and caregivers.

Key elements of these changes include the ability to work flexible hours and remotely, assisting employees in coordinating their work obligations with family life challenges. The law includes extended maternity and paternity leave, marriage leave, childcare, and bereavement leave, all aimed at improving employees' mental and physical well-being.

Special attention is given to mothers: employees who are pregnant or raising at least five children can benefit from additional work-hour concessions to ease the coordination of daily tasks and child-rearing.

Dubai and Sharjah: Marriage Leave to Support Family Formation

The emirates of Dubai and Sharjah have also taken significant steps in implementing measures that support family formation. Both governments have introduced paid marriage leave for local government employees.

From early 2025, the Dubai government will offer ten working days of fully paid marriage leave to UAE citizen employees. This initiative not only encourages the creation of marriages but also provides financial security to newlywed couples, as the leave includes all salary supplements.

In Sharjah, the executive council has approved a new human resources regulation that includes eight days of paid marriage leave. Additionally, it introduced the "Care Leave" initiative, aiding mothers who have given birth to children with illnesses or special needs, ensuring they have the necessary time and support to care for their children during critical periods.

Abu Dhabi: Family Law Reforms Serving a Multicultural Society

While other emirates focus primarily on workplace reforms, Abu Dhabi has taken a leading role in social and civil legal regulations. The Civil Family Law, introduced in 2021, is the first law in the UAE offering a secular alternative for non-Muslim residents in matters of personal status.

This reform allows for civil marriages, no-fault divorces, and equal parental custody rights, all through a transparent, non-religious legal system. A crucial aspect of the regulation ensures that no parent is automatically disadvantaged in custody decisions, and there is the possibility of relocating a child.

In the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial free zone, special provisions have been made: labor regulations extend maternity leave to mothers adopting children under five or those who experience a miscarriage after 24 weeks. This is a significant advancement in protecting women's employment rights.

Women working in the government sector in Abu Dhabi continue to be entitled to 90 days of fully paid maternity leave, which is outstanding in the regional context.

Federal Reforms: Strengthening Foundations for Everyone

The local initiatives build upon reforms previously initiated by the federal government. According to the new national labor law, all employees, regardless of nationality, are entitled to five days of paid parental leave, to be taken within six months of a child's birth. This is an important step toward encouraging active paternal involvement and shared parental responsibility.

Another significant change occurred in the federal Personal Status Law. Components of this include:

the extension of the child custody age limit to 18,

the provision for children over 15 to decide with which parent they wish to live,

and ensuring equal travel rights for both parents.

The Future of Families in the UAE

The newly introduced measures go beyond symbolic actions—they bring real, tangible change to the lives of families in the UAE. The Year of the Family is not just a campaign but a series of comprehensive initiatives prioritizing social cohesion, work-life balance, and the interests of children.

The reforms reflect the country's long-term strategy to build a society where economic development does not come at the expense of family values, and where working parents do not feel like tightrope walkers.

The UAE's new family policy direction points towards a strong, supportive, and inclusive society that meaningfully addresses the challenges of the modern family—not just for the local population but for the millions-strong expatriate community as well.

(The article source is based on announcements from local governments in the Emirates.)