Dubai Police urged parents travelling with children to understand child-safety rules at their destinations.
At around 1am one night, a mother received an unexpected call from Dubai Police regarding her 17-year-old daughter, who was staying at a Dubai hotel with friends to celebrate a birthday.
A caller from the Dubai Police Tourism Police Department first reassured her that her daughter was safe before explaining why officers had contacted her.
The group staying at the hotel were all 18 except for the mother’s daughter, who was 17. Police wanted to confirm that the mother was aware of the arrangement and had given her daughter permission to stay at the hotel.
Recalling the incident on Al Arabiya 99FM, where she works, Yasmin Zeido said she initially feared something had happened to her daughter when she received the late-night call.
Although surprised, she said she was impressed by the precaution and grateful that the officer had taken the time to contact her personally.
“I really appreciated that they took the time to call me at that hour and make sure I knew where my daughter was. It made me feel that they were genuinely looking out for her,” Zeido said.
The officer explained that some teenagers may tell their parents they are staying with friends while actually being elsewhere, including hotels. Police therefore seek to verify that parents know where their children are staying.
Zeido later asked whether she could mention the officer’s name when sharing the experience, but he declined, saying he was simply doing his job and did not want the action attributed to him personally.
According to Zeido, the officer emphasised that the department works as a team to help protect children and teenagers across the UAE.
“I don’t have to worry about my daughter in a country like this. Truly, thank you so much, Dubai Police. Thank you so much, Tourism Police,” Zeido said.
In July, authorities urged parents travelling with children to familiarise themselves with child-safety regulations in their destinations, warning that leaving minors unattended could carry legal consequences in some countries.
The Child and Women Protection Department at Dubai Police’s General Department of Human Rights stressed that protecting children is both a legal and moral responsibility, whether at home or abroad. Parents were advised to maintain open communication with their children, closely supervise them in crowded places and take appropriate precautions to safeguard their wellbeing.
Dubai Police also warned that leaving children unsupervised in hotels, holiday rentals or public spaces could result in legal consequences in certain countries.
