Dubai Police has arrested 34 people for running 33 unlicensed nurseries across various parts of the emirate, following a series of raids conducted in cooperation with Dubai Municipality, the Community Development Authority, and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
The operations were triggered by tip-offs to search and investigation teams, who placed suspect locations under surveillance before moving in with partner agencies. Some nurseries were found operating inside residential units, in spaces the authorities described as unequipped for childcare and lacking basic hygiene and safety standards.
Dubai Police said the conditions created real risks for children. “The danger of these nurseries lies in their operating outside childcare regulations, in locations unequipped to receive children, with low hygiene levels and no safety standards. These conditions, combined with the absence of institutional oversight of their staff, expose children to neglect or abuse.”
The unlicensed facilities were largely targeting low-income families by offering fees well below what licensed nurseries charge. Dubai Police acknowledged that the cost of regulated childcare places a strain on some households, but said that financial pressure does not reduce the risks of placing children in unregulated environments.
The force has urged parents, particularly within expatriate communities, not to make enrolment decisions based on price alone and to confirm that any nursery holds a valid official licence before registering a child. Community members who suspect an unlicensed facility is operating can report it by calling 901, or through the Dubai Police website or smart application.
The campaigns will continue as part of what the force described as its ongoing efforts to protect children and prevent practices that threaten their safety.
