Surrogacy in Dubai: What the Law Allows and Your Options
Surrogacy is no longer banned in the UAE, but Dubai has not yet published detailed rules for how it works, so every case depends on approval from the relevant regulator.
A 2023 change to federal law removed the old prohibition and left each Emirate to regulate surrogacy itself.
Intended parents must use their own eggs and sperm, and must apply for regulator approval before treatment. This guide explains what the law says, what is still unclear, and how to plan safely, including options abroad.
Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today
WhatsApp, Telegram, Line and WeChat: +44 7585 610211
Phone: +44 208 150 0059
Website: cryomedicallogistics.com
What the law says
The 2023 amendment removed the UAE's surrogacy ban but did not create a new surrogacy law.
Before 2023: Federal Law No. 7 of 2019 on Medically Assisted Reproduction prohibited implanting a couple's fertilised egg in another woman's womb (source).
Since 2023: Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2023 removed that wording. Non-Muslim couples, married or not, may access lawful assisted reproduction services, including surrogacy, with the consent of the relevant regulator and using their own eggs and sperm.
Who regulates it: each Emirate. In Dubai, that means local health authority requirements apply on top of the federal law.
As a lawyer quoted in late 2023 put it, there is no new law specifically enabling surrogacy; the text of the prior law preventing it has simply been removed (source). As of October 2026, we have not found published Dubai-specific surrogacy regulations, so check the current position with your clinic and a UAE lawyer.
Who may be eligible
Eligibility depends on religion, marital status and regulator approval.
Intended parents | Position under the 2023 law |
Married Muslim couples | May access assisted reproduction services; marriage is a prerequisite |
Couples where one partner is Muslim | Must be married |
Married non-Muslim couples | May apply to the relevant regulator |
Unmarried non-Muslim couples | May apply to the relevant regulator, with a declaration of the child's parentage |
Single people | No clear route published |
Conditions that apply to every case:
Own eggs and sperm: the embryos must be created from the couple's own eggs and sperm. Donor gametes are not allowed.
Regulator approval: you must apply to the relevant regulator, and treatment starts only after approval.
Parentage declaration: one or both parents file an acknowledgment of the child's descent, approved by the authority in their country of nationality. The child then takes that nationality.
What is still unclear or not allowed
Donor eggs and sperm are not allowed, and key details about surrogates and contracts have not been published.
Donor eggs or sperm: not permitted. Egg and sperm banks remain illegal for all couples, so surrogacy in the UAE only works with your own eggs and sperm.
Who can be a surrogate: the law says nothing about how surrogates are chosen, and no criteria have been published (source).
Contracts, payments and safeguards: no specific rules have been published for surrogacy agreements or protections for surrogates.
Differences between Emirates: each Emirate may take its own approach, so rules in Dubai could differ from Abu Dhabi or elsewhere.
Because so much depends on regulator approval, do not commit money or move embryos for a UAE surrogacy until your clinic and lawyer confirm the route is approved.
Practical questions to answer first
Parentage, nationality and recognition back home matter as much as the treatment itself.
Parentage: under the 2023 law, parents file a declaration of the child's descent, approved by their national authority. Ask your lawyer how this works for your nationality before treatment begins.
Nationality and documents: the child takes the nationality approved in that declaration. Check with your embassy what they need to issue a birth record and passport.
Recognition at home: your home country may treat surrogacy differently. Some countries do not recognise surrogacy arrangements, or require a court order to transfer parenthood.
Future moves: many expats relocate. Plan where your embryos, the pregnancy and the birth will happen, and how you would move embryos if your plans change.
Surrogacy abroad and moving your embryos
If a UAE route is not yet open to you, or you need donor eggs or sperm, surrogacy in another country may be an option, and your embryos can travel to it.
Create embryos in Dubai, transfer abroad: since 2023 the UAE permits the import and export of eggs and sperm. Ask your clinic how this applies to embryos in your case before you plan a move.
Choose a destination with clear rules: surrogacy law differs widely. In Mexico, for example, rules vary by state; in Nigeria there is no federal surrogacy law. Legal advice in the destination country is essential.
Our partner programmes: Cryo Medical Logistics works with partners who manage surrogacy journeys in Africa and Mexico. Our Africa surrogacy programmes start from US$45,000 to 50,000, including legal fees. Final costs depend on the programme and your medical needs.
Whichever route you choose, your home country's rules on parentage and citizenship still apply, so check them first.
How Cryo Medical Logistics supports you
We move your embryos, eggs and sperm safely between clinics, so your surrogacy plan is not limited by where your samples are stored.
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 clinic in Dubai and your receiving clinic on timing and paperwork.
Surrogacy partners: we can connect you with our partner programmes in Africa and Mexico.
We are ISO 9001:2015 compliant and carry FCA-regulated insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Is surrogacy legal in Dubai? The UAE's ban on surrogacy was removed in 2023, and each Emirate now regulates it. Every case needs approval from the relevant regulator, and detailed Dubai rules have not been published.
Can unmarried couples use surrogacy in the UAE? Unmarried non-Muslim couples may apply, with a declaration of the child's parentage. Where one or both partners are Muslim, the couple must be married.
Can I use donor eggs or sperm for surrogacy in Dubai? No. The embryos must be created from the couple's own eggs and sperm.
Can single people use surrogacy in Dubai? No clear route has been published for single intended parents.
Can I move my embryos from Dubai to a surrogacy programme abroad? The UAE now permits the import and export of eggs and sperm. Confirm embryo moves with your clinic and a lawyer, then use a specialist courier.
What will my child's nationality be? The child takes the nationality approved in the parentage declaration. Check with your embassy before treatment.
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. Surrogacy rules in the UAE are still developing and vary by Emirate, so always confirm your own situation with your clinic and a qualified UAE lawyer before you start.
Sources
Further Liberalisation of UAE Fertility Law, BSA Law via Mondaq, 14 November 2023
New UAE law change allows surrogacy: Here's what you need to know, HiDubai Focus (from Khaleej Times), 5 December 2023
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