Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, has issued a resolution approving the family charter that places the welfare of children as the paramount consideration in relevant proceedings. According to the Emirates News Agency, the move aims to provide a structured framework for addressing family issues while ensuring decisions align with established principles of child protection. The charter builds upon existing federal legislation and reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen family stability across the emirate.
The resolution arrives as the UAE observes 2026 as the Year of Family, a designation that has elevated child-related policies to a national priority according to statements from the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority.[[1]](https://atblegal.com/blog/news/uae-child-protection-law-embedding-the-principle-of-the-childs-best-interests-as-a-paramount-legal-standard/) Federal Law No. 3 of 2016, known as the Wadeema Law, already embeds the best interests of the child as the primary standard in all matters concerning minors, a framework that the new charter is expected to operationalise at the judicial level. Recent amendments to personal status laws have further extended custody considerations until age 18 for both boys and girls, allowing children aged 15 and above to express preferences that courts must weigh, according to legal analyses of Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024.
Abu Dhabi’s judicial authorities will apply the charter in cases involving custody, visitation and other family disputes, ensuring consistent application across relevant departments. The Emirates News Agency reported that the document outlines specific guidelines to prevent prolonged conflicts from adversely affecting children’s psychological and social development. Such measures complement the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Family in late 2024, which coordinates policies on child welfare, family cohesion and support for vulnerable groups.
Implementation of the charter will involve coordination among judicial bodies, social services and family counselling centres to provide comprehensive support during dispute resolution. A PwC review of regional government initiatives has highlighted UAE digital transformation efforts in residency and family services as among the most active in the GCC, a trend that could extend to streamlined handling of charter-related cases. The resolution underscores the judicial department’s role in translating high-level policy into practical mechanisms that serve families.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan serves as Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE in addition to his judicial oversight responsibilities, according to official government records. His issuance of the resolution aligns with broader reforms that have included updates to foster care rules for both expatriate families and eligible single women under Federal Decree-Law No. 12 of 2025, all grounded in the child’s best interests. These steps form part of a continuous legislative evolution that began with UAE ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The family charter is expected to reduce adversarial elements in proceedings by promoting mediated solutions that keep children’s needs central. Data from the Ministry of Community Development has previously shown rising demand for family counselling services, a trend the new framework seeks to address through structured guidance. Judicial officials will receive training on charter application to maintain uniformity in rulings across Abu Dhabi courts.
