Nafis child allowance expands to all eligible children from September, limit of four removed

Emirati women working in the private sector and married to Emirati men can receive the Nafis child allowance in two circumstances: where the husband has died, or where the woman is supporting her children because her husband is unable to earn or is unemployed. Proof of dependency must be established through a court decision, while incapacity to work requires confirmation from an official medical authority.

From September, the child allowance will be Dh600 a month for each qualifying child, with the previous limit of four children removed. The employee's monthly salary must not exceed Dh50,000. For sons, payments continue until they turn 21 or begin working, whichever comes first. For daughters, eligibility continues until they marry or start work.

Nafis is also introducing new programmes: a salary-support scheme for children of Emirati mothers working in the private sector with support of up to Dh3,000 a month, and salary support of up to Dh3,000 a month for wives of Emirati men who work in the private sector. The minimum monthly salary for eligibility across support programmes has been standardised at Dh6,000.