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Revision as of 07:52, 5 January 2025
Abortion in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is only legal in five instances:
- If the pregnancy is the result of sexual intercourse against the woman’s will or without her consent.
- If the pregnancy is a result of incest, meaning, if the person responsible for the pregnancy is from the woman's lineage or her relatives.
- At the request of the spouses after the approval of a regulatory committee. The nature of the requests that spouses can make has not been detailed in the resolution.
- If the continuity of the pregnancy endangers the pregnant woman's life.
- If the foetus' deformation is proved. The deformation must be severe, and could affect the newborn’s health and life.
In addition, the duration of the pregnancy at the time of the abortion must not exceed 120 days. The regulatory committee must comprise of an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist, a psychiatry specialist, and a representative from the Public Prosecution. If the pregnant woman is not a citizen, she must have a valid UAE residency permit for at least one year. Prior to 2024, the UAE did not permit abortions in cases of rape or incest. The legislation change aimed to reduce illegal and unsafe abortions.
Background
A 2011 report by Gulf News found that the illegality and inaccessibility of abortion resulted in women purchasing cheap ulcer medication to end unwanted pregnancies. In an interview with a Filipino expatriate who sold such pills, she stated that demand for the tablets had grown due to social and moral values shifting while laws had not. The report found that such tablets did not guarantee an induced abortion, with failure in 15-20% of cases, and could result in death through bleeding or infection in rare cases. The demand for such pills were attributed to the former law enforcing imprisonment and then deportation to mothers with children born out of wedlock.
Police found 154 newborns abandoned in the UAE between 2004 and 2009. A man faced charges of pre-meditated murder after it was revealed he aborted a foetus that was born alive but died within hours.
References
- Barakat, Waad (25 June 2024). "UAE: Abortions allowed in 5 cases; all you need to know about the new law". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- Tesorero, Angel (8 June 2024). "UAE ministry announces abortion regulations". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- Issa, Tala (27 June 2024). "UAE abortion laws now apply to cases of rape, incest: All you need to know". Arabian Business. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- "UAE to legalise abortion in cases of rape and incest in landmark reform". The Express Tribune. 21 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- "Cabinet Resolution No. (44) of 2024 Concerning the Permitted Abortion Cases". uaelegislation.gov.ae. 2024. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ Asger, Muby (7 July 2011). "Illegal abortions a fatal choice". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
