Sharjah 24: The Emirate of Sharjah's journey toward formal childcare began in 1984, when the Sharjah Government instituted procedures to protect children's rights by providing alternative families for children who lack social care and overseeing the issuance of identity cards for them.

Children's welfare is a vital part of the Sharjah Government's strategy, which reflects the aspirations of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, who worked to establish institutions that care for children at all stages of growth.

The Child Units in the Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD), established in 1995, celebrate International Children's Day on November 20 each year, believing in the child's rights, which should not be violated or deprived, and working to ensure the rights of children and those without social care by securing their rights. The department aspires to build a prosperous, secure, family-stabilised, and socially inclusive society by the use of best social practices consistent with the goals of sustainable development.

According to Amina Al Rifai, Director of the Child and Family Protection Centre, the centre provides a variety of social services, assistance and support services, education and health, as well as legal representation.

The SSSD recently launched a child protection diploma in collaboration with the University of Sharjah (UoS), with the goal of equipping students with a variety of fundamental knowledge and skills in various areas of child protection, as well as how to deal with a variety of practical issues involving children, and to develop the child protection and development system, which provides the best possible means of attention and care for him children and enhances citizens' experiences.