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Implementation of child protection in the UAE under Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan: A policy analysis of the children's safety framework

Tamalanrea: Journal of Government and Development (JGD) · Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026) · pp. 66–80

DOI
10.69816/jgd.v3i1.50018
ISSN
3047-4116
Published
2026-04-20
Publisher
Department of Government Science, Hasanuddin University
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0

Abstract

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite operating under a royal system of government, has pursued significant advancements in children's rights. This paper employs a qualitative descriptive design to examine child protection implementation in the UAE during the leadership of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, analyzing key legal instruments, particularly Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 (Wadeema's Law), and institutional programs under the Children's Safety framework, including the Child Protection Unit, Child Protection Committee and Centre, and Child Safety Department. Using Rosenau's political behavior framework, the study analyzes how leadership personality and executive authority have shaped child protection policy. Findings indicate measurable progress in specific domains, particularly health and protection, as reflected in successive KidsRights Index editions, while persistent gaps remain in the structural conditions necessary for comprehensive realization of children's rights, most notably in the enabling environment domain. This study offers comparative insights for countries, particularly those in the Middle East, seeking to strengthen child protection policies while navigating the intersection of international human rights standards and domestic legal traditions.

Keywords

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Muh. Fichriyadi HastiraAffiliation unknown1
Gabriela Karunia MangiriAffiliation unknown1
Nurjannah AbdullahAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/jgd/oai, first harvested 2 Nov 2026, last seen 2 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Implementation of child protection in the UAE under Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan: A policy analysis of the children's safety framework</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Hastira, Muhammad Fajhriyadi</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Guarte, Ronel Jhon Lumor</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Chaliza</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">United Arab Emirates (UAE)</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Child Protection</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Policy Formulations</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Children's Rights</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Zayed Al-Nahyan</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">The United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite operating under a royal system of government, has pursued significant advancements in children's rights. This paper employs a qualitative descriptive design to examine child protection implementation in the UAE during the leadership of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, analyzing key legal instruments, particularly Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 (Wadeema's Law), and institutional programs under the Children's Safety framework, including the Child Protection Unit, Child Protection Committee and Centre, and Child Safety Department. Using Rosenau's political behavior framework, the study analyzes how leadership personality and executive authority have shaped child protection policy. Findings indicate measurable progress in specific domains, particularly health and protection, as reflected in successive KidsRights Index editions, while persistent gaps remain in the structural conditions necessary for comprehensive realization of children's rights, most notably in the enabling environment domain. This study offers comparative insights for countries, particularly those in the Middle East, seeking to strengthen child protection policies while navigating the intersection of international human rights standards and domestic legal traditions.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Department of Government Science, Hasanuddin University</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-04-20</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/jgd/article/view/50018</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.69816/jgd.v3i1.50018</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Tamalanrea: Journal of Government and Development (JGD); Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): APRIL 2026; 66-80</dc:source>
	<dc:source>3047-4116</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.69816/jgd.v3i1</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/jgd/article/view/50018/14534</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Fajhriyadi Hastira, Ronel Jhon Lumor Guarte, Chaliza</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>