IVF in Dubai and the UAE: The Law, Your Options and Moving Your Embryos
IVF is legal and well established in Dubai and across the UAE, and a 2023 change to the law widened who can be treated and made it possible to move eggs and sperm in and out of the country.
We recently collected samples from a fertility clinic in Dubai for safe transport overseas. This guide is for patients planning treatment in the UAE, and for anyone who needs to move eggs, sperm or embryos to or from Dubai. It covers what the law allows, what it does not, and how Cryo Medical Logistics supports you from collection to delivery.
Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today
WhatsApp, Telegram, Line and WeChat: +44 7585 610211
Phone: +44 208 150 0059
Website: cryomedicallogistics.com
The law: 2019, updated in 2023
IVF in the UAE is governed by Federal Law No. 7 of 2019 on Medically Assisted Reproduction, amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2023, issued on 15 September 2023 (source).
The 2023 amendment also lets each Emirate regulate reproductive practice through its own local legislation. Where no local rule exists, the federal law applies. In practice, clinics in Dubai follow both the federal law and their local health authority's requirements.
Before any treatment, clinics must confirm that assisted reproduction is the most suitable option, and collect official documents, consent from both parties and a certificate showing no health risks.
What is allowed
Since 2023, more couples can access IVF in the UAE, and eggs and sperm can be moved in and out of the country.
Area | What the law allows |
Married couples | IVF and other assisted reproduction, with proof of marriage |
Unmarried non-Muslim couples | IVF without a marriage certificate, with a declaration of the child's parentage approved by the authority in the parents' country of nationality |
Freezing | Embryo freezing is allowed on the couple's written request, without a separate regulator consent |
Import and export | Eggs and sperm can now be imported into and exported from the UAE |
New techniques | Local health authorities can approve new reproductive techniques |
What is not allowed
Donor eggs and sperm remain illegal in the UAE, and surrogacy is no longer banned but has no published rules yet.
Donor eggs and sperm: treatment must use the couple's own eggs and sperm. Egg and sperm banks remain illegal for both Muslim and non-Muslim couples (source).
Anonymous donors: not permitted.
Muslim couples: must still provide proof of marriage.
Surrogacy: the old ban was removed in 2023 and each Emirate now regulates it. No specific safeguards or criteria have yet been published, so any surrogacy plan depends on approval from the relevant regulator.
If you need donor eggs or sperm, or are considering surrogacy, take legal advice before you start, and plan where each stage of treatment will happen.
Moving eggs, sperm or embryos to or from Dubai
Since 2023, eggs and sperm can be imported into and exported from the UAE, which opens up treatment across borders for expats and international patients.
Common reasons to move samples include returning home before or during treatment, continuing IVF in another country, or bringing samples frozen abroad to a clinic in Dubai.
Before anything travels, arrange:
Written consent and release forms from the clinic storing your samples.
Written acceptance from the receiving clinic, confirming it can legally receive and use them.
Any approvals the regulators in either country require.
A specialist courier who hand-carries the samples in a liquid-nitrogen dry shipper, with full chain-of-custody records.
If you are an expat, think early about where your life may take you. Planning for a possible move keeps your options open at every stage of treatment.
How Cryo Medical Logistics supports you
We provide supervised hand-carry transport of eggs, sperm, embryos and stem cells to and from Dubai, across the UAE and worldwide.
Supervised hand-carry: a trained specialist carries your samples in person, door to door. They are never checked in as cargo or left unattended.
−196°C dry shippers: samples stay in liquid-nitrogen dry shippers for the whole journey.
Do Not X-Ray protocol: applied at every airport checkpoint.
Chain of custody: every handover is signed and documented.
Clinic coordination: we work with your sending and receiving clinics on timing and paperwork.
We are ISO 9001:2015 compliant and carry FCA-regulated insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Is IVF legal in Dubai? Yes. IVF is regulated under Federal Law No. 7 of 2019, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2023.
Can unmarried couples have IVF in the UAE? Unmarried non-Muslim couples can, with a declaration of the child's parentage approved by the authority in their country of nationality. Muslim couples must provide proof of marriage.
Can I use donor eggs or sperm in the UAE? No. Treatment must use the couple's own eggs and sperm.
Can I freeze embryos in Dubai? Yes. Embryo freezing is allowed on the couple's written request.
Can I ship my eggs, sperm or embryos out of Dubai? The 2023 amendment permits the import and export of eggs and sperm. You will need consent from both clinics, the required approvals and a specialist courier. Confirm embryo moves with your clinic before booking.
Is surrogacy legal in the UAE? The ban was removed in 2023, but no specific rules have been published yet. Approval from the relevant regulator is required, so take legal advice first.
Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today
WhatsApp, Telegram, Line and WeChat: +44 7585 610211
Phone: +44 208 150 0059
Website: cryomedicallogistics.com
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical, legal or financial advice. UAE rules vary by Emirate and can change, so always confirm your own situation with your clinic or a qualified lawyer.
Sources
The UAE's New Legal Landscape for IVF and Assisted Reproduction, LYLAW
Further Liberalisation of UAE Fertility Law, BSA Law via Mondaq, 14 November 2023
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