ARTICLE · 11 JULY 2024

UAE Liberalizes Abortion Laws: Key Changes And New Permissible Cases

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The UAE has taken a significant step in liberalizing its stance on abortion with the introduction of Cabinet Resolution No. 44 of 2024 regarding the determination of permissible abortion cases.

United Arab EmiratesGovernment, Public Sector

Major Legal Shift: Cabinet Resolution No. 44 of 2024

The UAE has taken a significant step in liberalizing its stance on abortion with the introduction of Cabinet Resolution No. 44 of 2024 regarding the determination of permissible abortion cases. Effective as of June 21, 2024, this Resolution marks a notable departure from the previous restrictive laws, expanding the circumstances under which abortion is now permissible.

Key Changes Under the New Resolution

Expanded Permissible Cases

The new Resolution introduces three additional scenarios where abortion is legal:

Non-consensual Pregnancy: If the pregnancy is a result of an act committed against the woman's will, without her consent, or with forced or unreliable consent—in other words, as a result of rape.

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