Does the UAE permit sperm donation? And this is likely the first question that occurs to you, in case you are living in the UAE and you need to find the answers concerning the fertility options. The regulations surrounding sperm donation in the UAE are quite crucial to learn, particularly because the nation has strict Sharia-based laws that govern all medical and family-related issues.
In this blog, I will explicate articulately whether sperm donation is legal or not, the legal and religious grounds underpinning the prohibition, and what fertility interventions couples in the UAE are allowed.
Is Sperm Donation Allowed in the UAE?
The Short Answer
No, there is no sperm donation in the UAE. Neither sperm nor egg donation is allowed according to the UAE Federal laws and Sharia-based laws. In case you are a couple in the UAE, then under the law, the assisted reproductive treatments (IVF, etc.) can only be performed in case both gametes (sperm and egg) belong to a legally married husband and wife.
This means:
- You cannot take sperm from an external donor.
- You cannot lay eggs of a different woman.
- You cannot hire a surrogate.
The rationale is obvious: to utilize the sperm of a person who is not a partner of the marital union is regarded as a type of zina (adultery) according to Sharia, which is strictly prohibited.
Legal and Religious Reasons
And now I will tell you the reason why this rule exists. It is not only law-related, but also preservation of family values, lineage, and rights of inheritance.
Islamic Perspective
Islam regards lineage (nasab) as sacred. The biological attachment of a child should never be doubtful or ambiguous, which can be traced back to the parents in a marriage.
Using a sperm or egg of an outsider mixes up lineage, family identity, and the right to inheritance. This is the reason why the Sharia law prohibits it.
From an Islamic point of view:
- Donor sperm = fracturing kinship.
- Donor egg = mixing bloodlines.
- Surrogacy = putting a third party into the picture.
This is the reason the three are not permitted in the UAE.
UAE Law
UAE is a country that adheres to Sharia law. The regulations are also stern:
- Sperm donation = illegal.
- Egg donation = illegal.
- Surrogacy = illegal.
Clinics that provide such services are subject to severe penalties, which consist of:
- Heavy fines.
- Shutting down of the health facility.
- Possible criminal charges.
Provided you, as a couple, attempt to circumvent the regulations by taking donor sperm within the UAE, you can also be punished.
What Fertility Treatments ARE Allowed?
The positive thing is that there are several fertility treatments legal in the UAE, provided that you and your spouse are the origin of sperm and egg.
These are the recommended therapies:
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
It is among the most prevalent fertility procedures. It is through it that physicians can join your sperm and the egg of your spouse in the laboratory and implant it inside the uterus of your wife.
- The sperm and the egg of the couple should be used only.
- No involvement of donors.
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
This is a specialized type of IVF in which a single sperm from the male is directly injected into the female egg.
- It is quite helpful when the husband has few sperm or weak sperm.
- Once again, it is the sperm of the husband that can be permitted.
Egg Freezing
UAE women can freeze their own eggs.
- It is a nice choice when you desire to keep your fertility in the future.
- But such eggs can be fertilized only with the sperm of your lawful husband.
Embryo Freezing
Embryos formed by IVF can also be frozen by you and your spouse.
- Such embryos should be a part of you and your husband.
- They may be used only in your marriage.
- In case the marriage is terminated (divorce or death), then the embryos will be able to be implanted.
Therefore, although sperm donation is prohibited, there are legal ways of getting fertile assistance in case you and your partner would like to receive some medical assistance.
What Do People Do If They Need Donor Sperm?
In the case of couples that medically need donor sperm, the UAE scenario is not that easy. Yet lots of couples take other ways. Let me explain the main ones.
Travel Abroad
The most appropriate solution is one that involves going outside the continent to the countries where sperm banks are legal.
The most popular destinations are:
- United States.
- United Kingdom.
- Spain.
- India.
Such nations have developed fertility clinics and legal sperm banks. The UAE couples usually go there to get treatments they can not get locally.
Medical Tourism
Not all fertility clinics in the UAE are legally allowed to do sperm donation; however, they will refer you to international partner clinics.
Via this, you get medical counsel and an in-country connection, but the real treatment is abroad.
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Adoption or Fostering (Kafala)
The other option is the consideration of fostering or adoption.
The Islamic system refers to it as kafala. It is not adoption in the Western context, but it will enable you to nurture and raise a child without violating the rules of lineage.
This route is taken by many couples when medical treatment is not available.
Why Is Sperm Donation So Strictly Banned?
You may be asking yourself why sperm donation is totally prohibited in a world where there are so many other countries permitting the same. The solution is the combination of religion, culture, and law in the UAE.
- Religious Integrity- Islam prohibits the mixture of the lineage outside of marriage.
- Cultural Protection- Family in the UAE is founded on clear parental grouping.
- Legal Enforcement – UAE laws are founded on Sharia, and therefore, regulations have to be in tandem with religion.
These reasons make the country impose strict prohibitions regarding sperm donation, egg donation, and surrogacy.
What If You Are an Expat in the UAE?
A high number of expatriates reside in the UAE, and some might be from a country in which sperm donation is a norm.
But the thing is as follows:
- Although sperm donation may be legal back home, it is not legal in the UAE.
- You will be punished in court in case you attempt it here.
- Such treatments can only be safe by travelling to foreign countries.
Therefore, in living in the UAE, as an expat, you have to abide by the local laws.
FAQs
1. Is it legal to donate sperm in the UAE?
No, sperm donation is not legal in the UAE. Only fertility procedures with the aid of a sperm donor, being the husband, and an egg donor, being the wife, are permitted by the law.
2. Why is sperm donation prohibited in the UAE?
It is prohibited due to the Sharia law, which safeguards family genes and the prohibitions against mixing the genes of outside marriage.
3. Is it possible to use donor sperm in the UAE in IVF?
No, there is no donor sperm in the UAE. The sperm of your husband can only be used for IVF or ICSI.
4. Which fertility procedures are permitted in the UAE?
You may have IVF, ICSI, egg freezing, embryo freezing–so long as they use the couple’s sperm and eggs.
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Final Thoughts
As I have described, the law and Sharia do not permit the donation of sperm in the UAE. In case you are a couple having an infertility problem in the UAE:
- You may use your own egg and sperm via IVF or ICSI.
- Only in marriage can you freeze eggs or embryos.
- Donor sperm, donor egg, and surrogacy are all strictly forbidden.
Should you require spermic donor sperm, all you have to do is:
- Travel abroad for treatment.
- Consider adoption or kafala.
I understand it can be a delicate and sensitive topic for you; however, the rules should be well understood. By so doing, you can make sound judgments about the future of your family.
