Gulf News reports on the UAE's new family law:
A new law regulating the working hours of UAE national women and laying down that they have to be released from their duties at 4pm latest every day will soon come into force, said a senior official... ...The 4pm release rule will apply to public and private departments. It will help national women fulfil their role as mothers. Al Bah said another law will give national women the option to retire after serving an establishment for 10-15 years. This will enable them to spend time in the house with their husband and children... ...Al Bah said national women, who are married, should have at least six babies and this should be viewed as a national duty... ...He said the Council will also impose a law that will force establishments, which have a number of women, to set up nurseries. It will work on bettering the atmosphere at work, thereby reducing stress. UAE women shoulder all the responsibilities at home, leaving the men with little to do. This, he stressed, is a mistake committed by the women. He said some girls are married without their approval or after being shown pictures of grooms. The council will work on ensuring the couple see each other. It is against Islam to get a girl married without her approval or by force. Al Bah said the UAE may follow Kuwait's example by making it compulsory for a couple to attend court proceedings before finalising a divorce. Currently, men can divorce their wives without prior notice. Delegates at the conference called for regulating marriages to foreigners, especially between aged nationals and young foreign women. They said children from these marriage do not speak proper Arabic.On the good side:
- Daycare established at work
- Steps taken to limit girls being married off to strangers without their consent
- Marriage arbitration before divorce
- Women's working hours restricted
- Women should have at least six children
- Banning marriage between UAE national men and foreign women