Emirati couples to get free fertility treatment in Dubai

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has issued Executive Council Resolution No. 49 of 2017 on the Amal Initiative that provides fertility treatment free of cost to Emirati couples at Dubai Health Authority's, DHA, Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre.

According to the Resolution, in order to benefit from the Amal Initiative, couples should have been married for at least a year; should not have any medical insurance that covers fertility treatment; must sign an undertaking that confirms the accuracy of the information submitted to the Amal Initiative; the wife must be included in the husband's Family Book; and Citizenship Decrees must be valid on the date of application.

The Resolution classifies beneficiaries into three main categories. The first category includes families that hold a Family Book issued from Dubai, and families in which the wife holds a Family Book issued from Dubai and the husband was born to an Emirati mother or was granted UAE citizenship issued through the Citizenship Decree.

The second category includes families that hold a Family Book issued from another emirate, and families in which the wife holds a Family Book issued from another emirate and the husband was born to an Emirati mother or was granted UAE citizenship through the Citizenship Decree. The third category includes families in which the husband and wife were born to an Emirati mother or were granted UAE citizenship through the Citizenship Decree.

Families falling in all three categories are entitled to a different number of treatments during the year, if they do not have any children, or if one of the parents suffers from a medical condition that requires gender selection.

Families in the first category are entitled to receive three sets of treatment during the year if they have three children or less and one of the parents suffers from a medical condition that requires fertility treatment.

Families falling under the second category are entitled to receive two sets of treatment in the year if they have two children or less and one of the parents suffers from a medical condition that requires fertility treatment.

Families in the third category are entitled to receive two sets of treatment in the year if they have one child and one of the parents suffers from a medical condition that requires fertility treatment.

This Resolution annuls any other legislation that contradicts or challenge its articles. This Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and is effective from the date of publication

- Wam