Tamalanrea: Journal of Government and Development
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): APRIL 2026

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

Muhammad Fajhriyadi Hastira (International Relations Study Program, Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta, DIY, Indonesia 55184)
Ronel Jhon Lumor Guarte (Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon, Philippines 8710)
Chaliza (Department of International Relations, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia 90245)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Apr 2026

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.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jgd

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Environmental Science Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

Tamalanrea: Journal of Government and Development (JGD) is a government and development studies journal for the theoretical and practical discussion of government, public institutions, public policy, and development. Our journal, in association with the Department of Government Science, Faculty of ...