Surrogacy in UAE - cost and process

What is surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a type of assisted reproduction where a woman carries and gives birth to a child for intended parents, we call this woman a surrogate mother. In this process, conception happens through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technology. IVF and surrogacy in the UAE are closely linked, with IVF being the standard method of conception.

The UAE will only accept gestational surrogacy in the country, this is where the surrogate is not genetically related to the child. The use of donor sperm or donor eggs is not permitted, in line with current UAE surrogacy regulations.

Any and all medical procedures have to take place in licensed IVF clinics in the country to follow strict UAE surrogacy legal framework guidelines.

Surrogacy Law in the UAE

As previously mentioned, surrogacy in the UAE is regulated by the Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2023. The law lays out the criteria, responsibilities, processes, and legal protections for all parties involved in a legal surrogate motherhood arrangement in the country.

Each emirate is given the responsibility of rolling out the law in their region, and the available services may vary and it will depend on where you live or which emirate you choose to go ahead with surrogacy.

Who Can be a Surrogate Mother?

A surrogate mother in the UAE has some important legal rules that they must follow. The current requirements have been released and are subject to change from emirate to emirate but they include requirements like, the surrogate must not be genetically related to the child, (donor eggs are not permitted), a formal, notarised surrogacy agreement is signed prior to the process beginning stating the roles, responsibilities, and purpose of all parties involved and when the baby arrives, the surrogate will give up all parental rights and the legal parentage is transferred to the intended parents as per the signed agreement.

Other requirements include women should be between the ages of 21 and 45 (this varies on the emirate), have to have had at least one full-term pregnancy but no more than five, no more than two C-section deliveries, good health is very important, body mass index (BMI) should be between 19 and 30, no chronic health issues that could potentially complicate a pregnancy, history of substance abuse, agree to go through a full psychological and medical screening and give informed, voluntary consent to be a part of the process.

For the latest status updates on the current requirements in each emirate, please submit an enquiry.

Surrogacy in the UAE: Legal, Licensed & Now Available

It is with great pleasure to confirm surrogacy is now legal, licensed, and available in the UAE! We can thank and welcome the introduction of the Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2023 which can be found here. This incredible development shows a significant transformation in the UAE’s new approach to reproductive healthcare and growing family options for people in and out of the UAE.

This article is here to provide you with the guidance you are seeking, it is to help you navigate the new chapter of your life, support you in understanding how surrogacy is handled in the UAE and find updated, verified information on the only licensed surrogacy agency that is operating in the UAE, whether you are a potential surrogate or intended parent, we are here for you.

We would be happy to share details on the fertility clinics and centres that are licensed and authorised to carry out surrogacy as well as offer support and advice to anyone who wants to contact us.

We want to make things easy for you to understand, from your rights and responsibilities, giving you guidance on the stages in the journey and if needed, connect you with the correct people you need to discuss matters with.

We will be happy to answer all your questions.

Biological parents

There are many reasons as to why you would like to start a family and choosing to do this in the UAE could be beneficial for you. Intended parents have a number of requirements to be accepted for surrogacy in the country, these include the intended mother must be medically unable to carry a pregnancy, (even though she must still be physically fit enough to have embryo transfer procedures), both individuals must have thorough medical and psychological evaluations (ensuring the stability of the process) and the age requirement is between 18 and 47 years old (although this range may vary depending on the emirate).

The eligibility rules apply to both Muslim and non-Muslim couples. Marital status may also affect eligibility depending on the policies of the emirate the application is made. One of the legal conditions is that the intended parents must use their own egg and sperm, as donation is not currently allowed in the UAE and to further safeguard the health of the child, both individuals must have a full genetic screening in the country to confirm that they do not carry any conditions that could be passed on to the baby.

Prior to commencing, intended parents have to obtain a certificate of eligibility that is issued by a licensed and authorised medical facility and approved by the relevant health authority in the emirate.

As previously mentioned, there can be additional requirements that each emirate has enforced on the law as they are responsible for rolling the law out in the emirate. If you want the most accurate and up to date information, we recommend you contact us.

The medical justification requirement for gestational surrogacy is generally only approved in specific cases where the intended mother has some issues. The issues that are accepted to be the medical justification are being born without a uterus, having their uterus surgically removed, uterine abnormalities like large fibroids or Asherman’s Syndrome and multiple miscarriages that are unable to be treated. In other instances, gestational surrogacy can be considered when carrying a pregnancy could pose a serious health risk to the intended mother like cardiac disease or advanced renal failure. The medical committee in the emirate will review and approve a surrogacy programme on a case by case basis and the stronger the clinical evidence the better for the intended parents’ case.

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Status of Surrogacy by Emirate (as of May 2025)

Abu Dhabi

Surrogacy is legally permitted and now available in practice. The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi has begun licensing surrogacy clinics, and currently there is one approved surrogacy agency that is now operational. Implementation is ongoing, with procedures subject to local regulatory oversight.

Dubai

Surrogacy is legally recognised and has recently become practically available. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is actively involved in regulating the process and currently has one licensed surrogacy agency. Services remain limited but are gradually expanding under DHA supervision.

The Emirates Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain

Currently, there is no formal surrogacy implementation as of yet. These emirates are expected to follow federal law but have not yet issued local guidelines or licensing structures.

Medical Free Zones (e.g. Dubai Healthcare City)

It is still under the umbrella of the federal jurisdiction. There are no known surrogacy programmes operating at this time.

Note: For the latest status and a list of licensed clinics, please submit an enquiry.

The Surrogacy Process in the UAE: Step-by-Step

While service availability varies, a general process will look like this once fully implemented:

01

Step 1: Initial Enquiry

Estimated Time: 1 – 2 weeks

The intended parents will visit and consult with medical and legal professionals to discuss eligibility and the full surrogacy process. This is where all your questions would be answered.
02

Step 2: Proof of Conditions
Estimated Time: 2 – 4 weeks

The Intended mother will undergo a thorough health evaluation. This will include but isn’t limited to the following;
- Clinical confirmation of absence of the uterus.
- Severe health risk to the intended mother if she were to carry a pregnancy.
- Testing for an abnormal uterus.
- Genetic testing.
- Psychological testing.
03

Step 3: Proof of Indications

Estimated Time: 3 – 5 weeks

A medical report will be prepared and approved by two consultants from the clinic. It will then be passed to the medical committee for approval and we will await their response before proceeding.
04

Step 4: IVF & Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

Estimated Time: 6 – 8 weeks
The intended mother must go through IVF and perform a PGD. A PGD is a screening process that screens the embryos prior to the implanting for any genetic or chromosomal conditions prior to the transfer. When the embryos are approved by a licensed clinic, the transfer is carried out at a licensed fertility clinic in the UAE.
05

Step 5: Surrogacy Agency Contract

Estimated Time: 1 week

A surrogacy agency contract is signed, ensuring clarity on the service scope, responsibilities, costs and payment schedule.
06

Step 6: Matching You With a Surrogate
Estimated Time: 4 – 8 weeks

We would locate a surrogate for the intended parents and a medical and psychological evaluation of the surrogate mother will take place to ensure she is a suitable match for:
- The intended parents (in terms of compatibility, health, expectations)
- The medical requirements of the IVF clinic
- The legal and ethical criteria set by the health authorities
It would also include other things like:
- Hormonal levels
- Uterine health
- Past pregnancies
- Mental readiness
- Infectious disease screening
07

Step 7: Signing a Legal Third-Party Notary Agreement

Estimated Time: 1 week

A legal third party notary agreement will be signed that details the roles of everyone involved, the parental rights, liability and any financial terms.
08

Step 8: Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

Estimated Time: 2 weeks

The surrogate mother will start having hormone treatment, which can take 20 to 25 days, and her uterus will be prepared for the frozen embryo transfer. As soon as it is actioned, the frozen embryo is thawed and transferred into the surrogate once the hormone preparation has been completed and the doctor has confirmed the surrogate is in optimal condition.
09

Step 9: Comprehensive Pregnancy Care

Estimated Time: 38 – 40 weeks

Pregnancy care is given to the surrogate throughout the journey, it includes regular ultrasounds, checkups, and support services that match the healthcare standards in the UAE.
10

Step 10: Birth and Legal Registration

Estimated Time: 2 – 6 weeks after birth

After birth, the intended parents are registered as the legal parents. The surrogate mother will have given up any rights to the child in the legal contract and the legal documents, such as the birth certificate, nationality, passport and DNA test if required, are issued.

The initial enquiry to the birth of the baby takes between 12 to 18 months depending on the speed of approval from the health authority, the IVF success rate, availability of a surrogate, legal and administrative timelines. The process can also take longer if the embryo transfer is not successful or if a new surrogate match is required.

We will be happy to answer all your questions.

Costs and Confidentiality

At present, the UAE has not issued any official cost guidelines for surrogacy, but the current costs for the only surrogacy agency within the UAE range between AED 200,000 and AED 435,000, depending on the programme and package that you select. Additionally, the Department of Health has stated intended parents must purchase an insurance policy that covers all the health services related to the surrogacy and they are also responsible for paying any additional costs not included in the policy or exceeds the limits of the policy.

The government funded insurance schemes, such as Thiqa, basic, enhanced, or any other insurance schemes cannot be used to cover surrogacy related expenses or complications. However, we can confirm that an insurance company named Daman Insurance has created three dedicated surrogacy insurance packages offering an annual coverage limit of AED 150,000. The packages differ because they are based on covering things like the number of embryo transfer attempts included, the duration of coverage, which can be eight or sixteen months, and the network of healthcare providers available under the plan.

All medical records, legal agreements, and personal information related to surrogacy are handled with strict confidentiality, in full compliance with UAE health laws.

Is surrogacy legal in the UAE?

Yes, surrogacy has been legal since 2023 under Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2023. Local implementation in each emirate is ongoing.

Are surrogacy services available in the UAE?

Yes. Currently, there is a surrogacy agency offering surrogacy services within Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Can non-residents or foreigners pursue surrogacy in the UAE?

Yes. It’s important to note that while the federal law permits surrogacy for non-residents and foreigners, the implementation and availability of services may vary by emirate. Therefore, individuals interested in pursuing surrogacy in the UAE should request more information by making an enquiry below.

Can we use donor eggs or sperm?

No. UAE law requires the use of the intended parents’ own gametes.

Are surrogates compensated?

Yes, compensation for surrogates is provided.

What if a dispute arises?

The signed, notarised contract provides legal protection, and the UAE courts will enforce it under the national surrogacy law.

Where can I find more information about the clinics in the UAE?

If you’re seeking more details about the surrogacy clinics in UAE, or would like to connect with fertility clinics in the UAE and consult with some fertility doctors in the UAE, please contact us for a full list of accredited providers.

What happens if a surrogate mother withdraws from the programme?

If it is before the frozen embryo transfer the surrogate must have a valid reason, such as health or family concerns, then a replacement will be found. If the reason is not justified, the surrogate is legally obliged to reimburse the incurred expenses.

What happens if there is a miscarriage or the frozen embryo transfer does not work?

Step 1: The IVF specialist evaluates whether the current surrogate mother is suitable to repeat another transfer. The decision will be based on the clinical outcomes, psychological resilience and overall well-being.

Step 2: If the surrogate mother is not eligible to continue, all financial obligations to her are fulfilled in accordance with the signed agreement, a new surrogate is selected and matched with the intended parents and once a match is found, the programme proceeds with a new embryo transfer following medical readiness.
Please note there can be extra costs should this happen.

800

Babies born

98

Surrogates participating in our programs

748

Successful IVF cycles

60

Oocyte donors in the database

9

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