Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Judicial Council, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, passed Decision No. (7) of 2022 regarding the formation of the Custody Committee, affiliated with Dubai Courts.
The new law is part of the Dubai Government’s commitment to make sure the welfare and protection of children that have been affected by custody disputes and also to protect their mental and physical well-being.
As per the decision, the Custody Committee will have two representatives from Dubai Courts appointed by the Director-General of Dubai Courts, who will act as a Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee, and two representatives of the Community Development Authority in Dubai assigned by the Director-General of the Authority, one of which will be from its child protection unit.
The Committee will further include two representatives from Dubai Police specialising in children’s protection selected by the Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police and as an official of Dubai Courts. They will be serving as the rapporteur of the Committee.
The Committee has been given the task of making a detailed report on the mental, social, health and criminal status of the person asking the custody or the person to whom the court will be given custody of a child.
The decision also outlays the process for giving a custody eligibility report. The court will initially ask the Committee to draft a custody eligibility report, after which a particular site visit will be held to assure the guardian or custodian of the child is appropriate to take care of the child, besides the evaluation of other requirements.
The decision binds authorities that are involved in Dubai in charge of children’s affairs to completely adjust with the Committee and give all data and information as requested by it to carry out its operations.