The latest UAE Penal Law introduces a new provision for unmarried parenting. It provides that anyone who has sexual intercourse with a woman who has completed 18 years of age, resulting in the birth of a child, shall be subject to a minimum of two years in jail.
However, the couple shall not face criminal charges if they get married or jointly or separately admit parenthood of the child, and issue the baby’s official documents and passport in accordance with the laws of the country of which either is a national and are in line with UAE’s laws.
Unacknowledging a child born out of wedlock is considered a punishable crime under the new law.
“As of January 2, 2022, parents would be committing a crime if they fail to document or acknowledge their child born out of wedlock”
The previous law, which criminalized consensual relationships out of wedlock, did not set any provisions on parenting children of unmarried parents.
