Parents In UAE To Face Dh5,000 Fine Or Jail For Child Neglect

Parents or custodians neglecting or leaving a child unattended or without supervision will face a fine of 5000 Dirham ($1,361) in the UAE.

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) recently issues a statement, warning people against abandoning their duty of guiding and directing a child while using electronic devices. The department ascertained the offender will either be sentenced to jail or have to pay a fine of "no less than Dh5,000."

"A child caregiver (Parents or custodians) shall be prohibited from neglecting or leaving a child unattended or without supervision, and shall not abandon his/her duty of guidance and direction when a child uses electronic devices or plays electronic games," the ADJD said in a statement, as reported by the siasat.com.

The penalties came in line with Articles 35 and 60 of Federal law No 3 of 2016 regarding Child Rights, known as the Wadeema Law.

The ADJD also issued the instructions in a public post on its Instagram page, where it clarified the definition of child neglect, along with listing out the penalty for the same, Gulf News reported.

The Law also details other penalties related to child neglect, including abuse of any kind and failure to provide basic education and nutrition to children.

The UAE is particularly strict about child abuse or neglect of any kind. Child abusers in the country can face a fine of up to 50,000 Dirham along with strict terms of jail. Along with strict anti-bullying measures, corporal punishment is also banned in schools across Abu Dhabi.