Dubai: An Asian man and his wife have been arrested for running an illegal day-care centre from their home in Naif.

Major Shaheen Al Mazmi, Director of the Child and Women Protection Department at Dubai Police, said when police ambushed the two-bedroom apartment in Naif, they found nine children aged from two to sixth months in one bedroom.

“We received information that a woman and her husband were babysitting children of different ages in their home, without a license and in conditions that did not meet the standards set for a day-care centres,” he said.

Police monitored the apartment and saw parents dropping off their children in the mornings and picking them later in the day.

The apartment was raided and the couple, who have a child of their own, were arrested. 

Maj Al Mazmi said parents who sent their children to the couple were summoned for questioning.

“The parents, who were all Asian, would pay between Dh200 and Dh500 per month, depending on how long they would leave their children at the day-care,” he said.

Maj Al Mazmi warned parents to against leaving their children in unlicensed day-cares as it could pose a danger to their lives.

The couple confessed to running an unlicensed day-care centre and their case has been transferred to public prosecution.