Jamila Al Zaabi, former director of the Dubai police women's prison, spoke about instances where inmates received support for housing payments and educational expenses, as well as confidential education for children whose families were separated by incarceration.
According to Al Zaabi, families of inmates in Dubai may qualify for assistance with rent and school fees if household circumstances warrant it. This support is provided on an individual basis, as it is not an automatic right for every family, and its goal is to prevent the sentence from becoming a heavy burden for relatives outside the prison.
In an interview with the ArabCast podcast, hosted by Ahmed Al Zarani, Al Zaabi described her approach, emphasizing the practical and emotional work required to maintain kinship ties. This includes protecting a child's confidentiality at school and arranging surprise meetings with parents.
It is stated that the humanitarian aid unit assesses the inmate's needs from the moment of admission. The file reviews the situation of the entire family, including children at school, before the committee decides whether assistance with rent or fees was appropriate. Al Zaabi noted that the committee can deny aid if it is determined that the circumstances were deliberately created. She explained the principle of family support, stating: 'You are not here to punish her family; you are here to reform her so that she benefits her family.'
The former director also recalled measures taken to allow the children of female inmates to attend private schools without attracting undue attention. According to the description, the children began their education around age four. Instead of using a school bus, which could reveal their place of residence, staff used a special vehicle. Nannies accompanied the children to school and carried their bags. Al Zaabi stressed that the vehicle did not have police license plates or a police logo, which was done to protect the children's privacy.
The director reported that the aim of these measures was to ensure that the children did not feel different from their classmates simply because one parent was in prison. Regarding the legal framework, Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2024 establishes important guidelines for younger children, allowing an incarcerated woman to keep a newborn with her until the child reaches two years of age; after that, the child is handed over to a guardian or care provider, or placed in a foster home if that is not possible. The mother must be informed of the child's whereabouts and have the opportunity for regular contact with them.
Al Zaabi cited the example of a woman who trafficked drugs after being offered money, using an advance payment to cover rent before traveling to Dubai. She was sentenced to about ten years in prison. After initial shock, the mother tried to contact a friend but found the phones were turned off. After several years of effort, diplomatic contacts organized by the Dubai police revealed that the friend had taken the girl to an orphanage. This institution later closed, and the children were moved elsewhere. The mother, as quoted by Al Zaabi, said: 'I don't need anything, I just want to know where my daughter is.'
In another case, Al Zaabi recounted a woman serving a long sentence who had not seen her parents for about fourteen years before going to prison. Staff contacted the parents and brought them to the facility without informing the daughter. She was called to meet with the manager, expecting to be reprimanded, but then saw her parents entering. Al Zaabi shared this memory of an unexpected reunion: 'She became a child again in the arms of her mother and father.'
