For UAE expats, adopting child from abroad can be swifter than at home

Adopting while living in the UAE is swift and accessible say expatriates who have adopted children from different locations in the world while residing here.

Ester and Nick Benbrook, who have biological twins, have had only positive comments since they adopted their son. Courtesy Benbrook family

DUBAI // Adopting a child from another country is quicker and easier when done from the UAE, expatriate couples say.

Adoption is not officially recognised but couples can adopt while living here if their country and that of the child’s allow it.

It is quicker because they work through embassies rather than international adoption agencies, which can take years longer.

“Usually it is faster and costs less than in their own countries,” said Dr Andrea Tosatto, a psychologist at the Synergy Integrated Medical Centre in Dubai, who has helped more than 400 couples to adopt.

“On average, an adoption takes one year here, while in Italy it would take around three years. There are people from Kuwait and Bahrain who are coming to ask for help.”

Embassies must determine whether the parents are fit to adopt, and then may legalise the adoption.

Ester Benbrook and her husband, expatriates in Dubai, have biological twins of their own – Hannah and Ella, aged 4. They adopted a son, Liam, from Ethiopia.

The Benbrooks met Liam in August 2014 when he was four and a half months old, and the adoption was legalised six months later.

“We got a call in August 2014 telling us we have a son. From that moment he was our son in our hearts,” said Ms Benbrook, a Slovakian.

She said the process could be overwhelming at first but it was just a matter of following steps.

“Compared to other countries, it’s easy,” Ms Benbrook said. “Not having an adoption agency, you feel you are more in control of where your papers go and how quickly or how slow.”

Gerlinde Krupp, 54, and Steve Allinson, 62, adopted Sofiya seven years ago and Callie four years ago from Ethiopia.

“We adopted for the first time in 2009, and then in 2012,” said Ms Krupp, a German, who adopted both children when they were 3 years old. “Back then the process was quite easy.

“With Sofiya, the entire process took us eight and a half months, and for Callie, it took two and a half months. I was 48 when I adopted for the first time and the second time 51.

“There would have been no chance for adopting a young child in Germany. It takes at least five years and there is an age limit. The adoption process in the UAE is much easier than in other countries, although getting the residence visa can be difficult at times.”

Marina Ottenga, from Italy, adopted two years ago, starting the process in October 2013 and taking charge of her daughter Diana the following January.

“We met Diana in January and she was 45 days old and was tiny,” Ms Ottenga said. “That moment was amazing. She was like a little dolly. She looked straight in our eyes and smiled.”

Australia’s child support and family protection department says it takes between four and seven years for an overseas adoption of a child under 2 years old.

AdoptionServices, an agency in US, says international adoptions take between one and five years, depending on the country involved.