Surrogacy in the UAE: What the Law Actually Allows

Is surrogacy legal in the UAE? The removal of an express federal prohibition in 2023 opened the door, but the legal position remains more nuanced than headlines suggest.

In this episode of Lawgical, Ludmila Yamalova explains the UAE’s evolving surrogacy framework, Abu Dhabi’s operational pathway, and the legal and financial considerations intended parents should understand before proceeding. The discussion covers:

Gestational versus traditional surrogacy and restrictions on donor eggs and sperm.

Eligibility requirements for intended parents and surrogates.

Abu Dhabi’s approval process, treatment requirements, and birth registration.

The position in Dubai and other emirates.

Parentage, custody, inheritance, nationality, and recognition abroad.

Agency fees, surrogate compensation, insurance, and contractual risks.

Anonymity, lifestyle restrictions, and the limits of contractual control.

Moving embryos across borders and pursuing surrogacy abroad.

The episode also compares birth-registration approaches in other jurisdictions and explains why careful documentation and legal advice matter from the outset.

Find more legal insights at lylawyers.com. Listen to Lawgical on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch the video podcast on YouTube.