UAE laws by sector

Family & Community

UAE personal status, family, child protection, social welfare and community legislation.

Editorial cover for Federal Decree by Law No. (50) of 2023 — Public Welfare Associations Law

Active / in force2023

Federal Decree by Law No. (50) of 2023 Concerning the Regulations of Public Welfare Association

Federal Decree by Law No. (50) of 2023

This decree-law regulates public welfare associations in the UAE, including establishment and declaration, governance, membership, boards, funding, activities, foreign relations, transparency, AML/CFT safeguards, supervision, dissolution, social solidarity funds and compliance. Important executive and administrative-penalty regulations were issued in 2025.

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Active / in force2021

Federal Law No. (3) of 2021 Regulating Donations

Federal Law No. (3) of 2021

Regulates collection, receipt, handling and use of donations in the UAE, including licensing and permits, approved channels, donor-fund protection, records, supervision, advertising, foreign donations and enforcement.

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Editorial cover for Federal Decree-Law No. (23) of 2024 — Social Support and Empowerment

Active / in force2024

Federal Decree-Law No. (23) of 2024 on Social Support and Empowerment

Federal Decree-Law No. (23) of 2024

Creates the federal framework for social support and empowerment, defining beneficiaries, eligibility, calculation and payment of support, changes in circumstances, grievances, empowerment obligations and administration.

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Editorial cover for Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2022 — UAE Civil Personal Status Law

Active / in force2022

Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2022 On the Civil Personal Status

Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2022

The Civil Personal Status Law provides a federal civil family-law regime for non-Muslim UAE citizens and non-Muslim foreigners within its statutory scope. It regulates civil marriage, divorce, post-divorce financial matters, child custody, inheritance, wills and parentage, with detailed executive rules issued in 2023.

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Editorial cover for Federal Law No. (28) of 2005 — Personal Status Law 2005 (Repealed)

Repealed/replaced from 2025-04-15 by Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2024 issuing2005

Federal Law No. (28) of 2005 Regarding Personal Status

Federal Law No. (28) of 2005

Federal Law No. (28) of 2005 was the long-standing federal personal-status statute regulating marriage, divorce, maintenance, parentage, custody, guardianship, wills and inheritance. It is retained here as a historical law because the 2024 Personal Status reform replaced it from 15 April 2025.

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Editorial cover for Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2024 — UAE Personal Status Law

Active / in force2024

Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2024 On the Issuance of the Personal Status Law

Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2024

The decree-law issues a new federal Personal Status Law governing core family-status matters including marriage, divorce, maintenance, parent-child matters, custody, guardianship, wills and inheritance within its statutory scope and conflict-of-laws rules. It replaced Federal Law No. (28) of 2005 and entered into force on 15 April 2025.

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Editorial cover for Federal Decree by Law No. (26) of 2025 — Child Digital Safety Law

Active / in force2025

Federal Decree by Law No. (26) of 2025 Regarding Child Digital Safety

Federal Decree by Law No. (26) of 2025

The UAE's federal child-digital-safety framework protects children using digital platforms and assigns obligations to digital platforms, internet service providers and child caregivers. It establishes a Child Digital Safety Council, risk-based platform classification, age verification, privacy and reporting requirements, and a transitional compliance period.

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