Just like in any other country, the birth certificate for a newborn baby is a crucial document in the UAE for both residents and expats. It is not only used as a newborn’s legal proof of identity in the country but also a ticket to secure their future and attain their rights to essentials, like education and healthcare. If a child doesn’t have legal proof of birth, they will be debarred from all such facilities provided by the country.
So, whether you are a UAE citizen or an expat, In this article, we help you get to know all about how you can get a newborn birth certificate in the UAE for your child in the country along with the documents required for it.
How to Get a Newborn Birth Certificate in the UAE?
An individual can obtain a newborn birth certificate in the UAE with the help of Mabrouk Ma Yak (The official portal of the UAE government). It is an integrated digital service that is available for UAE nationals. This digital service grants applicants to get the followings things for their newborn:
- Thiqa (Insurance)
- Addition of name to the family book
- An Emirates card
- A birth certificate
- Passport
Note: Mabrouk Ma Yak (The official portal of the UAE government) also allows users to get their newborn’s identity added to the country’s population.
Requirements to Acquire a Birth Certificate for a Newborn Baby in the UAE
To acquire a birth certificate for a newborn baby in the UAE, the father of the child must apply for the Mabrouk Ma Yak services within three months (120 days). Parents should meet the following criteria to download their child’s birth certificate from the portal.
- The father must be a UAE national and should hold a verified UAE pass account.
- The mother of the child must be added to the family book.
The documents required to acquire a birth certificate for a newborn baby in the UAE are:
- Marriage Certificate (Required only if the child is firstborn)
- Valid identification of both mother and father
- UAE family book
Note: The babies must take birth in a hospital that provides Mabrouk Ma Yak services in order to get a birth certificate later on.
Steps to Avail Mabrouk Ma Yak Services
Parents must notify the hospital if they want to use Mabrouk Ma Yak services. Follow the steps to use Mabrouk Ma Yak services for Newborn Birth Certificate in the UAE:
Step 1: Inform the hospital if you want to avail Mabrouk Ma Yak services.
Step 2: You will receive an SMS with a link that confirms the completion of the procedure.
Step 3: Log in to the official website of Mabrouk Ma Yak and enter the newborn’s details, such as name and photograph.
Step 4: Make an online payment of the fee.
Step 5: You will receive an SMS on your registered mobile number requesting a visit to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs (GDRFA) with the family book.
How Can Expats Acquire a Birth Certificate and Residence Visa for their Newborns?
Residents have a span of 30 days to register their child’s birth in the UAE. If the parents of the newborn are from different nationalities, then the newborn will adopt the nationality of their father.
The parents should submit the following documents to the hospital where their child is born or to the relevant health authority of the Emirates:
- Attested marriage certificate (Arabic translated if the certificate is in other languages)
- A hard copy of the passport and visa of both mother and father
- Details of the birth from the hospital
- Discharge certificate from the hospital
The birth certificate has to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Health and Preservation. Those birth certificates that are stamped by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (HAAD) are analogous to the seal of the Ministry of Health and Preservation (MHP).
All the residents have a period of 120 days from the birth of the newborn for the arrangement of formal documentation, including visa, Emirates ID, passport and birth certificates. In case of failure to arrange the documents within 120 days, a fine of AED 100 per day will be imposed, and also the newborn will not be allowed to move outside the country.
Updating Your Family Book
Once you get the birth certificate for your newborn baby, you need to visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs along with the same set of documents to add the newborn to your family book.
Getting a Passport for Your Newborn in the UAE
The UAE has made it easy for both UAE nationals and expats to get a passport for a newborn.
-
For UAE Nationals
You can apply for a passport for your newborn once you get their birth certificate. As a UAE national, you can apply for a passport for your newborn through the General Directorates of Residency and Foreigners Affairs/Citizenship Department. There is also an online facility available on the official portal of the Ministry of Interior to apply for a passport.
-
For Expats
Expatriate residents can apply for a passport for their newborn via their Embassy in the UAE once the birth certificate is attested. You can book an appointment at the Embassy of your home country. Ensure you have all the sets of required documents.
To get more information, visit the official portal of the Abu Dhabi Government / Dubai Government.
How to Acquire Emirates Identification and Residence Visa for a Newborn in the UAE?
To acquire an Emirates Identification and UAE residence visa for your newborn, you need to apply for it at a typing centre. You can also apply for the same online through the official website of the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship (FIAC). However, parents residing in Dubai should visit the nearest Amer centre (Command centre).
Requirements to apply for a residence visa and Emirates Identification for your newborn at an Amer centre in Dubai are:
- Copy of passport of both parents with a stamped and valid residence visa.
- Attested birth certificate of the newborn.
- Copy of your tenancy agreement.
- A passport size photograph of your newborn (The child’s eyes must be open, and the background must be white).
- Emirates Identification of the parents.
The applicant will receive an e-visa on their registered email address within two working days via Amer service providers.
You can have an Emirates Identification typed for your newborn at an Amer Centre (Command Centre) or from a Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship (FIAC) centre.
The required set of documents for the application procedure at Amer Centre (Command Centre) are:
- Original Emirates Identification
- Family book with photographs of all members
- Newborn’s Emirates Identification application
- Original passport of the newborn
- Documents of health insurance
- Sponsor’s original Emirates Identification
Birth Statistics of the UAE
The UAE has been witnessing a decline in the birth rate for the past four years. Check out the stats below.
| Year | Number of births ratio per 1000 people | Rate of Decline in Birth from the Previous Year |
| 2019 | 10.291 births | 0.9% from 2018 |
| 2020 | 10.200 births | 0.88% from 2019 |
| 2021 | 10.110 births | 0.88% from 2020 |
| 2022 | 10.019 births | 0.87% from 2021 |
To Sum Up
It is evident that a child must have a birth certificate to ensure that they are visible to the government. A birth certificate is a crucial document for a newborn in the UAE and other countries as well. The UAE government gives the sponsor a duration of 120 days to register their newborn birth certificate in the UAE to avoid complications like a penalty of AED 100 per day after 120 days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What if an individual fails to register their newborn's birth?
It is mandatory to register a newborn within 120 days of their birth. If an individual fails to register, they will be liable to pay a fine of AED 100 per day after 120 days
What is Mabrouk Ma Yak?
Mabrouk Ma Yak is the official portal of the UAE government that provides integrated e-service for newborns in the Emirates.
Is it possible for a single mother to sponsor a child in the UAE?
Yes, a single or divorced mother can sponsor her child's residence visa in the UAE if she is able to fulfil the requirements and obligations.
What are the requirements to sponsor a child in the UAE?
The procedure to sponsor a child in the UAE is the same as applying for a family visa. An individual must have a salary of AED 3,500 - AED 4,000 along with a valid UAE residence visa if they wish to sponsor a child in the UAE. The attested birth certificate of the newborn, a properly filled Emirates Identification of both parents, including the application form of their newborn, and a coloured passport-sized photograph are some of the documents required for sponsoring a child in the UAE. The sponsoring parent should also furnish a valid salary certificate or other profession-related contracts, utility bills, international bank account numbers, residence visa, passport and health insurance certificate.
