The U.S. State Department has recently released their annual report on International Child Abduction. Below is our last post in a series here focusing on the twelve countries classified as “demonstrating patterns of noncompliance.”  Today's country is the United Arab Emirates.

Country Summary: The United Arab Emirates does not adhere to any protocols with respect to international parental child abduction. In 2017, the United Arab Emirates demonstrated a pattern of noncompliance. Specifically, the competent authorities in the United Arab Emirates persistently failed to work with the Department of State to resolve abduction cases. As a result of this failure, 50 percent of requests for the return of abducted children remained unresolved for more than 12 months. On average, these cases were unresolved for two years.

Central Authority: In 2017, the competent authorities in the United Arab Emirates demonstrated a pattern of noncompliance by regularly declining to work with the Department of State toward the resolution of pending abduction cases. Moreover, the competent authorities have failed to resolve cases.

Location: The Department of State did not request assistance with location from the Emirati authorities.

Judicial Authorities: The lack of clear legal procedures for addressing international parental child abduction cases under Emirati law makes it difficult for the United Arab Emirates to resolve these cases.

Enforcement: The United States is not aware of any abduction cases in which a judicial order relating to international parental child abduction needed to be enforced by the Emirati authorities.

Department Recommendations: The Department will continue to encourage the United Arab Emirates to accede to the Convention and expand public diplomacy activities related to the Convention.