KT edit: Daddy counts, too

The five-day paternity leave gives the father the opportunity to bond with the child and act as a morale booster for the mother

It may not sound like a great deal but it is. Just the recognition of the male role in the week of the birth of a child and the fact that the UAE is the first Arab country to realise that a father's presence is a morale booster and an important element in the delivery stage underscores the nation's open minded and progressive attitude to inculcating behaviour that promotes the fabric of the family. Not only does the five-day paternity leave give the father the opportunity to bond with the child and act as a morale booster for the mother in this incredibly vital time but also stresses his importance in the mix. 
That the government has thought it fit to extend this privilege to the private sector is a very major and enlightening step. That it can be taken anytime up to six months after the birth also allows for being there in case of natal emergency or infant issues without having to take leave. The thought that has gone into it directly enhances the UAE's priorities in making a family feel a certain oneness and it is indeed the principle of the grant that stands out and it is hoped other nations will follow suit.