Parents are being urged to ask nurseries for their licences to help tackle those operating illegally. Amy Leang / The National
Parents are being urged to ask nurseries for their licences to help tackle those operating illegally. Amy Leang / The National
Parents are being urged to ask nurseries for their licences to help tackle those operating illegally. Amy Leang / The National
Parents are being urged to ask nurseries for their licences to help tackle those operating illegally. Amy Leang / The National

Abu Dhabi nurseries told to display licences after string of 'illegal babysitting' premises found


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Parents must ensure the nursery their child attends is licensed before signing them up, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) has said.

Under Adek rules, nurseries must visibly display their licence to prove they have permission to operate.

Dr Sara Al Suwaidi, Adek's early childhood education licensing director, said it was of "pivotal importance" parents were given access to licencing details.

“All nurseries have been instructed to display their nursery licence in the reception area, visible to the eye for parents to see,” she said.

“Additionally, nurseries must renew their licence on yearly basis. They must start the process at least two months prior to the expiry date of their licence.”

The department licenses and monitors all nurseries in the emirate, including 194 with 10,776 children in Abu Dhabi and 43 with 2,681 children in Al Ain.

Last year, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department investigated 69 cases of illegal babysitting services, according to a report.

In one case, an illegal babysitter was questioned by police after a family found blood stains on the underpants of their child. Abuse charges were later dropped but the babysitter was fined Dh40,000 for operating without a licence.

Dr Al Suwaidi said a trained team visits nurseries frequently to ensure they comply with licensing, academic, health and safety requirements.

“We look forward to hearing that all preschoolers are prepared to move onto the next level of schooling, and this can only be done through a safe, secure, well-rounded licensed nursery that has qualified staff and a well-established curriculum," she said.

Licensing requirements include complying with capacity, safety and hygiene regulations. Nurseries must have a an established curriculum, hold medical records of children and have their fees approved by the education regulator.

Unlicensed nurseries are usually much cheaper than legal ones. Last year, one parent told The National she paid about Dh600 per month to send her daughter to a "home nursery" in Ajman rather than pay about Dh1,200 to 1,500 for a registered one.

In 2015, a Pakistani girl, 2, died after falling on her head in a nursery operated from the Dubai International City apartment of a woman, 31.

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Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
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Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')

Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')

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Uefa Champions League, Group C
Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade
Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

The biog

Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos

Favourite spice: Cumin

Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
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  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
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  • Never over populated areas
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  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
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'Brazen'

Director: Monika Mitchell

Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler

Rating: 3/5

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

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The specs

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Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

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The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

The low down

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Director: Namrata Singh Gujral

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The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

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Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

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Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

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Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

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Thursday Beat Sydney 2-0 in Sydney

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July 22 v Chelsea in Beijing

July 29 v Benfica in London

July 30 v Sevilla in London

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets