How not to name your child in the UAE
The law is designed to safeguard the dignity and well-being of every child born here.
Abu Dhabi: A recent viral social media post has reignited public interest in a crucial but often overlooked aspect of parenthood in the UAE: the legal implications of naming a child.
The post, which has been widely shared in the past days, highlights the regulations of Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 concerning child rights, also known as ‘Wadeema’s Law’.
The law, named in memory of Wadeema, a child victim of abuse, is designed to safeguard the dignity and well-being of every child born in the UAE.
Among its comprehensive provisions is a stipulation that directly addresses the importance of a child’s name.
According to Article 7, every child has the right to life and to personal safety, and the state guarantees the child’s growth, development, and care in accordance with the law.
According to Article 8, a child has the right from birth to a name that does not imply humiliation or insult to their dignity and is not contrary to religious beliefs or social customs.
Article 9 stipulates: A child shall be registered immediately after birth in the births register in accordance with the applicable legal system.
Article 10 states: A child has the right to acquire a nationality in accordance with the laws in force in the state.
Article 11 affirms the right to legal parentage and family affiliation, and provides:
A child has the right to be legally affiliated with their lawful parents in accordance with the prevailing laws in the state.
Both parents, or the legal guardian, are obligated to obtain official documents confirming the child’s birth, nationality, and any other identification documents, in accordance with the laws in force.
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