Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures (UAE)

Last updated: August 4, 2026

We Make Footballers UAE — Safeguarding Children

We Make Footballers UAE is committed to safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of every child entrusted to our care and providing a safe, respectful and positive environment at every WMF activity.

For the purposes of this policy, a child is anyone under the age of 18 participating in a We Make Footballers activity.

This policy operates alongside the We Make Footballers Global Health, Safety & Safeguarding Policy and applicable UAE child-protection requirements, including the Federal Child Rights Law, commonly known as Wadeema’s Law, as amended.

Responsible & Safer Recruitment

Each We Make Footballers academy is an independently owned and operated franchise. WMF requires franchise owners to follow responsible recruitment and screening procedures for all staff and volunteers.

Franchisees must:

• Clearly define every role and its safeguarding responsibilities.
• Verify each applicant’s identity, qualifications, residency status and right to work.
• Meet and interview applicants before appointment.
• Obtain and verify a minimum of two references.
• Obtain satisfactory police clearance for adults appointed to child-related roles, including a UAE Police Clearance Certificate and any additional clearance or attestation required by WMF or the relevant authorities.
• Verify any coaching, employment, venue or Dubai Sports Council registration required for the role.
• Ensure coaches and relevant personnel complete safeguarding training before working with children.
• Maintain accurate records of clearances, registrations, training and renewal dates.
• Prevent anyone from undertaking unsupervised child-related work until all applicable screening and approval requirements have been completed.

Reporting Concerns

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Concerns must be taken seriously and acted upon promptly.

If a child makes a disclosure:

• Listen calmly and take what they say seriously.
• Do not investigate or ask leading questions.
• Do not promise confidentiality.
• Record what was said using the child’s own words wherever possible.
• Report the concern immediately.

• Poor Practice: Report concerns about inappropriate conduct or breaches of WMF procedures to the local franchise’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Suspected Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation: Contact the UAE Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre on 116111 or contact Dubai Police. Internal notification to WMF does not replace or delay a report to the relevant authorities.
• Immediate Danger: Call 999 for Police or 998 for Ambulance.
• Non-Emergency Police Assistance: Contact Dubai Police on 901.
• Corporate Escalation: If the local Designated Safeguarding Lead cannot be reached, the matter is not being handled appropriately, or the concern involves the franchise owner, contact WMF Head Office at info@wemakefootballers.com. This must not delay a report to the authorities.

For additional support in Dubai, contact the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children on 800111.

Whistleblowing

WMF prohibits retaliation against anyone who raises a genuine safeguarding concern in good faith.

Concerns about an adult in a position of trust may be reported to:

• WMF Head Office at info@wemakefootballers.com.
• The Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre on 116111.
• Dubai Police on 999 in an emergency or 901 for non-emergency assistance.
• The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children on 800111.

This public summary does not replace the full We Make Footballers Global Health, Safety & Safeguarding Policy or any reporting obligation imposed by UAE law.