UAE to Legalize Abortion Before U.S.A

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considering legalizing abortion in cases of rape and incest, marking a significant shift in its abortion laws. Under the proposed legislation, abortions would be allowed within 120 days (seven weeks) of pregnancy, provided the rape or incest is reported immediately and verified by the Public Prosecution. This decision will become official once announced in the Official Gazette.

Currently, UAE laws permit abortion only when the mother’s life is at risk or if the fetus has severe abnormalities. The new law, outlined in the UAE’s Cabinet Resolution No. (44) of 2024 connected to Medical Liability law, expands these provisions. According to The National, the resolution states abortion is allowed “if the pregnancy is the result of intercourse with a female against her will, without her consent, or adequate volition” and “if the person who caused the pregnancy is an ancestor of the woman or one of her mahram [ineligible for marriage] relatives.”

The proposed change comes at a time when abortion laws are tightening in other parts of the world. Since 2022, fourteen states in the United States have banned most forms of abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. This is a stark contrast to the UAE’s potentially more liberal stance.

In Islam, the topic of abortion is contentious. The religion does not consider life to begin at conception. Instead, ‘ensoulment’ is believed to occur at 120 days. Prior to this point, the fetus is considered a living being but not yet a human life. Therefore, abortions within this timeframe are subject to fewer restrictions, although they are still regulated.

Re-reported from the article originally published in She The People.