Hearing from Fathers: Barriers to Fatherhood Engagement for Abu Dhabi’s Young Children of Determination through an Ecological COM-B Analysis

Fatherhood engagement remains vital for early childhood development, particularly among young children of determination (YCOD). However, research and policy often marginalize fathers, framing their roles through mother-centric lenses or as limited to financial provisions. This is particularly pronounced in the Arab region, where paternal voices remain unheard. To address these gaps, this study examines the behavioral and systemic barriers to fatherhood engagement in Abu Dhabi. By integrating the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behavior (COM-B) model with Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, two focus groups were conducted with nine Emirati and expatriate fathers of YCOD, using theory-informed questions and a thematic analysis of the collected transcripts. The findings challenge the common assumptions of paternal disengagement or confinement to the microsphere or provider role. Participating fathers expressed strong reflective motivation, with perceived systemic challenges, particularly in education and healthcare. Perceived factors related to cost management, insurance, and access to support also highlighted room for capacity and opportunity building. By situating fatherhood within the proposed dual framework, this study provides a context-specific analysis that generates actionable and culturally responsive policy recommendations to strengthen existing support systems in Abu Dhabi and comparable settings.