Viral social media post puts spotlight on UAE’s Wadeema Law

KARACHI: According to media reports, a viral social media post has reignited public interest in the rules and rights concerning the naming of children in the UAE, as laid out under the country’s comprehensive child protection legislation known as Wadeema’s Law.

Formally titled Federal Law No 3 of 2016 Concerning Child Rights, the law outlines a child’s right to a name that safeguards their dignity and identity from birth. Reports on Indian and Gulf websites say that the renewed attention on this matter stems from a widely shared online post that cited specific provisions in the law.

The legislation, introduced in the wake of the tragic abuse and death of an Emirati child named Wadeema, was crafted to ensure the protection, care and dignity of every child in the UAE -- whether citizen or resident.

Among its provisions, Article 8 of the law specifically addresses the child’s right to a name, stating that “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”. This clause is intended to prevent names that could subject children to ridicule, discrimination or cultural insensitivity.

Other relevant articles in Wadeema’s Law reinforce this commitment to a child’s well-being from the moment of birth: Article 7 guarantees the right to life, personal safety, and the assurance of growth and care.

Article 9 mandates the immediate registration of a child’s birth in accordance with the UAE’s legal system. Article 10 ensures a child’s right to acquire nationality under applicable laws.Article 11 secures the child’s legal parentage and obliges parents or guardians to obtain all necessary official identification documents.

The law also lays out broader protections, such as Article 2, which affirms the child’s right to life, survival and development, and Article 33, which provides safeguards against abuse, neglect and exploitation.