Dubai has introduced new regulations for divorced parents travelling outside the UAE with their children. The updated regulations simplify the process for parents wishing to travel abroad with their children, eliminating bureaucratic hurdles.
These changes, part of Dubai’s D33 Social Agenda, aim to enhance community welfare in the emirate.
A statement on social media platform X announced: “Dubai Courts have implemented a new procedure to facilitate custodial parents and their dependents’ travel in line with the ‘Social Agenda 33,’ a roadmap for Dubai’s community over the next decade.
“This initiative aims to promote family happiness and unity, ensure top-tier housing and healthcare standards, and establish an education system that meets Dubai’s future needs while reinforcing achievements in a society that upholds tolerance and national identity.”
Under the previous system, procedures included:
- Obtaining a court decision allowing the plaintiff to travel with their children
- Securing a sponsor’s approval guaranteeing the child’s return
- Submitting an exemption letter to the Criminal Investigation Department to temporarily lift the travel ban
According to the Courts’ social media post, the updated procedure involves:
- Obtaining a court decision allowing the plaintiff to travel with their children
- Securing a sponsor’s approval guaranteeing the child’s return
- Using the Freedom Restriction System to lift travel bans on children
- Reinstating travel bans on children upon their return and lifting the sponsor’s travel ban
- To access this new service, individuals can submit a request to register a file (an order on a petition – permission to travel with children for a specific period).
