The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently made significant alterations to its fertility laws, granting access to in vitro fertility (IVF) treatments for non-Muslim couples and unmarried couples living in the country. In a noteworthy development, the Emirati government has also legalized surrogacy, allowing any woman to serve as a surrogate for another woman.
These legal modifications represent a more progressive stance on fertility laws in the UAE and come after a considerable period of deliberation. Previously, surrogacy was considered a criminal offense but is now decriminalized, offering the opportunity for any woman to carry and give birth to a child for another woman through surrogacy.
The changes also encompass non-Muslim couples, including unmarried couples, who are now eligible for IVF treatments. IVF typically involves the retrieval of sperm from a man and eggs from a woman, which are then fertilized outside the body to facilitate pregnancy. While the addition of sperm from a third person is a rare occurrence, it is permitted under certain circumstances.
Additionally, the government’s revisions in fertility regulations now enable unmarried women to preserve their eggs during their youth and allow men to store their sperm for future use. This shift in Emirati fertility laws is widely celebrated by experts as a transformative development in the UAE.
The United Arab Emirates is home to a substantial expatriate and non-Muslim population, including individuals from Western countries who have chosen to reside there. Under the new legal framework, couples facing fertility challenges and unmarried couples can explore IVF as an option to start or expand their families. Furthermore, any woman can opt to have her children by having her eggs implanted in the womb of a surrogate.
